Minneapolis is witnessing a surge in unrest, as protests against federal immigration enforcement intensify. At the heart of this movement is Defend 612, an activist group rapidly mobilizing supporters through encrypted networks, aiming to directly disrupt the operations of ICE.
Defend 612 doesn’t simply protest; it actively intervenes. Utilizing encrypted communication, they track ICE vehicles, swarm enforcement locations with observers, and attempt to warn individuals facing potential deportation. Their actions are fueled by a belief that current immigration policies inflict relentless harassment on vulnerable communities.
The group frames ICE actions not as arrests, but as “abductions,” a deliberate choice of language designed to evoke a powerful emotional response. While acknowledging the legal complexities, Defend 612 is dedicated to shielding individuals from deportation, directly challenging the core function of immigration enforcement.
Operating without formal incorporation, Defend 612 relies on a fiscal sponsor, Cooperation Cannon River (CCR), to manage finances and maintain tax-exempt status. This arrangement allows the group to receive donations and operate with a degree of financial flexibility.
Recent scrutiny has fallen on CCR, with watchdog groups filing complaints alleging that Defend 612’s activities may jeopardize CCR’s non-profit standing. These complaints center on accusations of promoting interference with federal agents and potentially unlawful actions.
Financial records reveal CCR’s revenue has grown significantly in recent years, jumping from roughly $48,000 in 2020 to nearly $250,000 in 2024. This growth is largely attributed to foundation grants and general contributions.
A substantial portion of CCR’s funding originates from larger foundations, including a $50,000 grant from The Solutions Project, co-founded by actor Mark Ruffalo. This project focuses on climate justice and supports organizations serving marginalized communities.
The Tides Foundation, a major conduit for liberal funding, has also provided at least $10,000 to CCR. Tides, in turn, receives significant financial support from the Open Society Foundations (OSF), funded by billionaire George Soros with over $32 billion.
Between 2020 and 2021, OSF channeled $25.8 million to Tides, with a portion earmarked for immigration activism and protest-related initiatives. This funding network has previously supported large-scale protests and movements, including Black Lives Matter.
Soros-linked funding extends through other channels, such as The Sixteen Thirty Fund, which provided $150,000 to Unidos MN, another organization within the same activist ecosystem. The Ford Foundation also contributes significantly to these groups.
Public funds indirectly support the Defend 612 network. MN350, a Minnesota nonprofit that donates to CCR, received $100,000 in state funding for community forestry and climate resiliency projects.
Organizations like The Solutions Project leverage private donations to help groups like CCR access federal EPA funding, while Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors manages federal contracts and provides grant-making infrastructure. This creates a complex web of funding sources.
The Amalgamated Charitable Foundation further facilitates donations to CCR and Defend 612, managing substantial funds from foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation, influencing public spending through policy advocacy.
The funding trail reveals a layered structure where private wealth and federal grants flow through national foundations and fiscal sponsors before reaching local Minnesota efforts connected to Defend 612.
Connections between Defend 612 and prominent politicians are largely indirect, operating through overlapping activist networks. The group is linked to the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate organization associated with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Sunrise played a key role in Ocasio-Cortez’s political rise and the development of the Green New Deal. While direct involvement by Ocasio-Cortez in Defend 612’s activities remains unconfirmed, the overlapping networks are undeniable.
Celebrities like Jane Fonda and Mark Ruffalo have endorsed Sunrise, primarily for its climate activism, further highlighting the interconnectedness of these progressive movements.
