Minneapolis Businesses Ditch January Sales to Play Whistle Hotline for ICE Protest

KEY POINTS

•Dan Marshall from Mischief Toys distributed 4,000 3D-printed whistles in January to support ICE protests in Minneapolis.
•Smitten Kitten, an adult store, stopped regular business to offer free food, diapers, and formula to people in hiding.
•Catzen Coffee closed on January 23 for an economic blackout but stayed open as a free community space with coffee and cats.

January, the retail graveyard normally reserved for gloomy tax prep and awkward wall repainting, has been cheerfully hijacked in Minneapolis-area businesses. Dan Marshall from Mischief Toys tossed out his usual January formula of cleaning and taxes to distribute 4,000 3D-printed whistles for ICE protest alerts—because who needs quiet when you can whistle rebellion? Over at Smitten Kitten, instead of stocking sex toys for their 'Super Bowl' Valentine’s rush, JP Pritchett converted the store into a pantry with diapers, formula, and free essentials, proving adult stores can surprise with their nurturing side. Meanwhile, Vanessa Beardsley’s Catzen Coffee abandoned profit to offer free cat cuddles and coffee during a January 23 economic blackout protesting ICE. Matt Cole of Oh Yeah! Cookies donated $300 worth of treats to kids sidelined by school closures—January's usual retail slump replaced by an all-out community aid carnival. DHS brags about over 10,000 arrests since Trump took office as Minnesota businesses choose heart over cash, confirming January 2026 is where retail went to feel very, very awkward.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Who needs profit in January when you can mass-produce whistles, turn adult stores into baby supply hubs, and serve free cat cuddles? Minnesota’s retailers really took ‘business unusual’ to a performance art level.

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