Sample Press Release
For Immediate Release Contact:
The Public is Invited to [THE PREMIERE or A SCREENING] of
“Minnesota Neighbors”
A Documentary About Ordinary People Galvanized by ICE’s Surge in the Twin Cities
“Minnesota Neighbors,” a new documentary from the producers of Not In Our Town, is being presented in [CITY]. The film highlights the historic stand that residents took during the surge of federal agents in 2025 and 2026.
The documentary will be shown at [LOCATION] on [DATE], at [TIME]. It will be followed by a discussion with [FEATURED SPEAKERS]. The event is organized by [PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS].
This powerful documentary depicts the historic stand that residents took when 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents descended on their communities during Operation Metro Surge.
Admission is free (with a suggested donation of $10 or more). Tickets are required. Reserve tickets here [LINK TO TICKETING].
Watch: Minnesota Neighbors Trailer
As ICE agents dragged people from their streets, homes and cars, residents responded with peaceful protests, sounds of warning, as well as support and mutual aid for immigrant communities and all who were being targeted. Their stories offer inspiration and guidance for communities everywhere – a particularly relevant lesson amid reports that mass detentions continue across the U.S. Over 50,000 people were detained in August 2026.
“In a moment when we saw so much brutality from federal agents in the Twin Cities, we also saw courage and kindness from ordinary people who stepped out of their everyday lives to face a crisis in their community. Our team was honored to document the stories of residents from all walks of life who united to support immigrant neighbors, their communities, and the rule of law. That is a story that will go down in our history books and will serve as a model for other cities under siege,” said Patrice O’Neill, the director of “Minnesota Neighbors.”
“Minnesota Neighbors” is among the first films to chronicle some of the stories from these history-making events. The film focuses on stories of Minnesotans who were motivated to “do something” in the face of a dire threat to their community. Well-known filmmaker Patrice O’Neill acted quickly to complete the film so that what was learned here could help other communities. The film is presented by Not In Our Town, a nonprofit media organization that has produced highly acclaimed public television documentaries about community responses to hate and bias for over thirty years.
Quotes from the Film:
“We couldn’t sit and watch and not do anything.”
—Teacher
“How do we protect our kids from our government?”
—Neighbor
“It became clear, nobody was coming to save us.”
—Neighbor
“They don’t treat animals the way they treated us.”
—Latino mother
“The horror of what our government is doing and the absolute beauty of the response.”
—Physician
“It’s about finding light in the darkness.”
—Union volunteer
“I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else because my neighbors are so good. It’s just a great community in a crisis.”
—Journalist
The film shows massive crowds marching in 20-below-zero temperatures. It includes widely seen footage of neighbors experiencing violence in the streets of the Twin Cities, as well as less familiar scenes of members of the Singing Resistance, the Sweet Potato Pie Project, Brass Solidarity and Indigenous food leader and acclaimed Chef Sean Sherman, as well as Chef Brian Ingram serving free barbecue chicken in the cold streets of Minneapolis.
There are street scenes where singing and brass bands provide joy and relief. Religious leaders from AME churches, synagogues, and mosques speak about their involvement. And there are the women from an Episcopal senior home who, upon learning that immigrant families were too afraid to go to the laundromat, respond. As one of them says, “We can’t do a lot at our age, but we can sure wash clothes.”
Today, the threat remains. Yet the effectiveness of the strategies emerging from the Twin Cities is clear. The filmmakers believe it is vital that communities across the country hear the stories of ordinary people who united as their country faced a dire threat.
[INSERT PARAGRAPH ABOUT LOCAL CONTEXT, PRIORITIES FOR SCREENING AND DISCUSSION]
“Minnesota Neighbors” is a Not In Our Town project and is intended for use in schools and civic spaces for years to come as an example of the power of community. More information about the film and community engagement project is available at https://minnesotaneighbors.org.
Photos available here.