Camille Jackson: ‘I definitely feel like things have changed’
Camille Jackson is a sociology student at the University of Minnesota who moved to Minneapolis from Madison, Wisconsin, in the fall of 2025.
“I care a lot about politics, but I feel like it is a taboo subject in Madison. It’s a very segregated city and not as diverse, so I wanted to get away from that. Wisconsin is a swing state, but you know that kind of means red. It’s expensive to go to college out of state, but I get reciprocity tuition in Minnesota, and it’s still close to home. So politics, diversity and reciprocity tuition were the big reasons I came here.
“I’m African-American and a part of the MLK LLC. We have lots of second-generation African immigrants, Liberian, Somali students and international students as well. Good was killed before we even got back to campus, then Pretti was killed. We were all texting in our big group chat, and people were so afraid to come back. We didn’t know if school would be online or if we’d need to walk with partners. My friends who were here over break were afraid to go to work, especially my Somali friends. They didn’t know what to do. I was in Madison, telling them it would be OK and we’d figure it out.
“When Good was murdered, I had friends who were there on the scene. They were sending me videos from it, and I was like, ‘You need to be so careful right now.’ I know people who live on Nicollet Avenue, where Pretti was murdered, and they had to evacuate because of all the gas and chemicals. People were there protesting and got swept up by the state patrol, I think, they were trying to beat everybody back.
“As an African-American, I’m reasonably afraid of ICE, but I’m not afraid they are going to deport me. I have that privilege. It’s bad when you know a Black American has the privilege. I’m probably one of the more privileged on my floor in Pioneer, which is weird. There’s a lot of fear, but people are taking care of each other.
“I’ve only lived here since September, but seeing how the community came together for the George Floyd protests, especially in the Powderhorn neighborhood, all those people came together. I definitely feel like things have changed, but there was definitely a framework in place. The neighborhoods knew each other and were helping each other. Government repression is not something that’s new to Minneapolis. They definitely have experience with cops.
“ICE is not cops. Cops don’t follow the rules, but ICE really doesn’t follow the rules. Changes are happening, like the filter blockades. I went through a filter blockade that got raided. I was driving through and cops swarmed the blockade. They came with vans and were ready to arrest people. They were strapped with tear gas and there was a helicopter. The community has the frameworks, like Cedar Riverside, and they all know each other. They’re ready. There are non-immigrant allies and rapid responders; all these Signal group chats and neighborhood watches. I’m sure it’s all the same people who were out protecting their communities six years ago.
“So yeah, a change has happened, but it’s not a 360 change. It’s just an adaptation.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Interview by Emily Lemmenes
