From Monroe to Minneapolis: Building Community Defense in Trump's America 🎙️ Radical Roots Ep 71

🎙️ Radical Roots Podcast – Episode 71: From Monroe to Minneapolis: Building Community Defense in Trump's America📅 Jan 19 2026 | 🕗 8:30 PM ET | 📍 Live from Union County, NCThey brought ICE/CBP terror to our doorstep. Monroe fought back.Tonight, local Union County activist Kara Ordonez joins us to talk about the incredible organizing work happening right here in Monroe and Union County—from the November courthouse protests to student walkouts, from challenging Mayor Burns to building community defense networks that protect our neighbors.Plus: Minnesota under federal occupation—2,000+ ICE agents deployed, 1,000 more arriving today, second shooting by federal agents, and Trump threatening the Insurrection Act.🔥 What We're Covering:✊ Operation Charlotte's Web & Monroe's ResponseNovember protests at Union County Courthouse. Student walkouts at Monroe High and CATA. What organizing in the immediate aftermath looked like when ICE terror hit Charlotte—just 30 minutes from Monroe.🏛️ Mayor Burns & Local Government ComplicityMonroe City Council's position statements supporting ICE cooperation. Union County Sheriff's voluntary 287(g) agreement. Challenging local officials who welcome federal enforcement into our communities.🛡️ Building Community Defense NetworksHow Monroe Immigrants and local activists are creating safety systems, rapid response protocols, and mutual aid networks for vulnerable families. Real organizing infrastructure being built right now.👊 Youth Leadership & Student OrganizingThe power of young people walking out and taking action. Monroe High and CATA students leading the resistance. How we support the next generation of activists who refuse to be silent.🌐 North Carolina's Immigration Organizing LandscapeConnecting Monroe's work to statewide resistance efforts. Building coalition power across red counties. What it means to organize in hostile territory and win anyway.🚨 Minnesota's Federal Occupation & Second Shooting2,000+ ICE agents deployed to Minneapolis with 1,000 more arriving today. Second shooting by federal agents last night. Minnesota filing state lawsuit calling it a "federal invasion." Trump threatening to invoke Insurrection Act against protests. This is what occupation looks like.✊ The Real Question:When ICE comes to your city, will you be ready? Monroe is showing us how to organize, how to fight back, and how to protect each other.📢 From Charlotte to Minneapolis—The Pattern is Clear:Federal terror. Local complicity. Community resistance. This is happening everywhere. Monroe is building the model.📢 Join the Movement:💬 Drop your thoughts below 📲 Follow: @RadicalRootsPodcast on IG, Threads, Bluesky 🔔 Subscribe & hit the bell 📩 [email protected] 🌐 https://radicalroots.us and DONATE#RadicalRootsPodcast #KaraOrdonez #MonroeNC #UnionCountyNC #OperationCharlottesWeb #CommunityDefense #StudentWalkouts #MayorBurns #287g #MonroeImmigrants #YouthOrganizing #MinnesotaOccupation #ICEResistance #BuildThePower