Frostbite to Defeat Fascism

Our Jon Farina went to the ER—after his fingers turned black—after covering a standoff for hours between ICE and construction workers near Minneapolis

***Status Coup has reported ON THE GROUND FOR MONTHS covering Trump’s ICE terror and protests against fascism in LA, NYC, Alligator Alcatraz, Chicago, Charlotte, and now Minneapolis. It’s very expensive & we’re INDEPENDENT. Support us for as low as $5 bucks a month***

This morning near Minneapolis, our intrepid cameraman Jon Farina rushed to the scene of a standoff between ICE and construction workers as they were forced to remain on top of a roof—in minus 10 degree cold—to avoid being taken by ICE.

After a several hour standoff, one worker became so ill he was forced to come down and immediately put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. ICE refused to provide the other worker—damn near freezing to death on the roof—with blankets or hand warmers to avoid hypothermia or frostbite. But Minnesotans rallied together, coming to the scene to STOP ICE from taking the second worker—eventually forcing ICE to leave without the worker.

Our Jon Farina was out IN THIS SUB ZERO WEATHER FOR HOURS showing you fascism vs solidarity. In the process, he had to take his gloves off at points in order to make technical changes to his camera/audio/phone. In doing so, he lost feeling in his fingers—with them turning black.

Once he ended our livestream, he went to urgent care—who told him to immediately head to the ER. In anguish in the waiting room, he feared he was going to lose a finger...or multiple. Thankfully, the damage was not that severe. He is in a lot of pain, but the doctor said he avoided severe frostbite and just had extreme cold exposure.

Jon has been all over this country for us for YEARS; putting his body—and mind—on the line for us and you so you can see the ugly face of fascism and capitalism...

And making sure to give the victims a microphone. Please thank him. And after you thank him, please consider supporting Status Coup as a paying member for as low as $5 bucks a month--so we can keep Jon, pay him well, and expand well beyond him with reporters, producers, editors, and cameraman with as much guts and passion as him.