Sled festival turned into anti-ICE protest targeting Trump in Minneapolis

Snow sleds became protest props in Minneapolis as a popular winter arts gathering doubled as a protest and jab at ICE and Donald Trump. The annual Art Sled Rally unfolded at the weekend in Powderhorn Park, a neighborhood that has become something of a hub for immigration anger following the recent killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent. What’s usually something of a playful community event leaned hard into politics this year, mixing dark humor with funny handmade objects on a snowy Minnesotan hill. (Pictures: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

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Largely, the protests were kind of silly, although all were more than noticeable. For instance, some participants dressed as bowling pins bearing the names Trump, Jong Un, Putin, Jinping and Khamenei. A giant bowling ball sled was then sent crashing downhill straight at them. Not hugely subtle, but the point was made. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

The loudest moment came with climax of the eye (and ear) catching bowling alley set piece. ‘There were these people who were dressed up as bowling pins with names of different political figures on them,’ local resident Melody, who documented the rally and took all of the photographs you’re seeing here, said. ‘And then there was a giant bowling ball at the top that came down and knocked them all over.’ All pins/leaders were all flattened in mere seconds. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

The rally itself was short, sharp and loud. For roughly an hour or two sleds were released one by one down the hill as crowds filmed every run. Some glided cleanly others spun out or crashed in a heap at the bottom. This wasn’t about medals or speed but about being seen and heard with plenty of phones capturing every tumble for social media. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

Several sleds went straight for ICE with zero subtlety. One was shaped like a giant spray bottle stamped ‘DE-ICER: ICE OUT OF MN.’ Another was made to look like a takeaway coffee cup reading: ‘I’ll take my horchata warm cuz f*** ICE,’ blending humor with a blunt message that left nobody guessing what side of the debate the creator was on. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

Things at the sled festival took plenty of surreal turns too. Literally and metaphorically. A chicken-shaped sled wearing a whistle slid downhill bearing the slogan ‘ICE OUT MSP.’ The silliness drew laughs but the message stayed clear turning cartoon visuals into something instantly shareable and with a very clear point. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

Melody said that the creativity on display went far beyond novelty. ‘It’s a bunch of these sleds that are these pieces of art that mean something to the community, to the creator, and to the artist,’ she explained. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

For many locals the setting mattered as much as the props and attention. Powderhorn Park sits in a city that has spent years being hammered by headlines, few of which paint the area in a great light. This rally showed a community using light-heartedness and craft to channel anger and catch America’s attention for a somewhat more positive reason for a change. (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

‘Minneapolis often shows up in a very specific way in the news, and we’re so much more than that,’ Melody said. ‘I felt like this was just a really great little sneak peek into what life is actually like here and how wonderful people here actually are.’ (Picture: melodyinminneapolis / SWNS)

Sled festival turned into anti-ICE protest targeting Trump in Minneapolis

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