It Could Happen Here

It Could Happen Here Weekly 221

Feb 28, 2026
Guest
Tara Ragavir
Tara Ragavir, a tenant organizer with the Tenant Union Federation, talks rapid Minneapolis tenant organizing and a rent strike. She describes a four-day sprint to build a citywide tenant federation. The conversation covers labor alliances, core strike demands like evictions moratorium and ICE out, and concrete ways people can support the campaign.
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INSIGHT

Rapid Tenant Union Formation Under Federal Occupation

  • Minneapolis tenants rapidly formed a citywide tenant union in response to a federal ICE occupation to coordinate rent strikes and mutual aid.
  • Tenant groups like Inquilinos Unidos and South Minneapolis Tenants Union merged efforts in a four-and-a-half-day sprint to build durable organizing power.
INSIGHT

Labor Alliances Accelerated The Strike Drive

  • Organized labor joined the Twin Cities rent strike drive quickly because longstanding relationships with community groups made alignment possible.
  • Unions like SEIU Local 26 backed the January 23 general strike because many members risked being unable to pay March rent.
ADVICE

How To Support The Twin Cities Strike Drive

  • Join tenant phonebanks and training if you want to support remotely; Twin Cities organizers asked allies to sign up at twincitystenants.org.
  • The Tenant Union Federation will share public lessons and only authorize a strike when disciplined and ready.
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