Clergy urge more from Target amid fatal Minneapolis shootings
- - Clergy urge more from Target amid fatal Minneapolis shootings
Kate Perez, USA TODAY January 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM
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After weeks of protests and pressure from clergy members and shoppers, incoming Target CEO Michael Fiddelke signed an open letter from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce on Sunday calling for an "immediate deescalation of tensions" following the fatal shooting of a man in Minneapolis by a federal agent.
The letter, which was published Jan. 25 on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies, states the companies are also calling "for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions" in the wake of the shooting death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, which has sparked protests across the city and country.
"We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment," the letter said. "In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future."
Fiddelke starts in his new role as Target CEO on Feb. 1 after serving as chief operating officer. Target's involvement in the letter comes shortly after a small delegation of clergy from the Twin Cities met with current Target Corporation CEO Brian Cornell to voice their concerns about "the escalating harm caused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement operations in Minnesota and across the country," according to a press release shared with USA TODAY.
1 / 10Vigils held for Alex Pretti, killed in Border Patrol related shootingMourners kneel at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.
Minnesota and its most populous city, Minneapolis, have seen an influx of federal officers from multiple law enforcement agencies since early January, with agents arriving to ramp up the Trump administration's immigration and deportation efforts. Federal authorities were also sent to other major cities, including Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Chicago.
Tensions in the Minneapolis region rose after an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7. The incident immediately sparked protests across the country, and the backlash swelled after Pretti's death on Jan. 24. Both Portland and Chicago have also seen instances of shootings at the hands of ICE, including the death of immigrant Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez.
Earlier this month, federal agents alongside U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino publicly detained two Target workers in Richfield, Minnesota. In the weeks since ICE's arrival and in the wake of the Richfield detainment, Faith leaders and clergy members have held press conferences outside and sit-ins inside Target headquarters.
More: Businesses to shut down as part of 'ICE Out of Minnesota' protest
Some of those faith leaders met with Target's outgoing CEO Cornell on Jan. 22, and urged the company to take action on four specific demands:
That Target use its national voice and influence to call for ICE to withdraw from Minnesota.
That the federal officer responsible for the killing of Renee Good be held to account and prosecuted.
That Target commit to being a Fourth Amendment–friendly business, standing against unreasonable searches and seizures, and encourage other corporations to do the same.
That Target publicly call on Congress to end funding for ICE through the Department of Homeland Security.
The news release states that while the clergy and Target shared concern for the safety of employees and customers, "Target failed to agree to these demands to address the crisis gripping our communities, and their inaction on the above demands falls short of the urgency this moment requires."
More: Target donated $300,000 to a Black church group. Why boycott activists want it returned.
"We remain hopeful that continued dialogue with Target will yield meaningful results in the near future, and we ask other corporate leaders to join this important conversation," the release said. "Until then, we stand unwavering in our organizing and call for Target and all Minnesota-based companies to step forward as champions for justice, using their voices and influence to help transform the current harms afflicting our state and nation."
The clergy did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for further comment. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce confirmed to USA TODAY that its letter was published around noon CT, about an hour after the clergy's letter was released, but declined to comment further.
A Target spokesman also confirmed to USA TODAY that their incoming CEO signed the chamber letter and declined to comment further on any matters regarding Target and ICE operations or protests.
More widely, Target has seen its share of protests over the past year, beginning when it rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in 2025. Leaders in the Black faith community called upon their followers to boycott Target since scaling back DEI efforts, notably holding a series of peaceful protests outside of the stores on May 25 – the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder.
USA TODAY's Betty Lin-Fisher contributed to this report.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] or on X @katecperez_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clergy urge more from Target amid Minneapolis ICE shooting
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