MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A national yoga chain reportedly caved to the demands stemming from a viral video shared on social media where students at a Minneapolis studio location berated company staff over what the company stance was regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A CorePower yoga studio out of Minneapolis turned into a bit of a chaotic scene earlier in February as students encircled two employees at the location who they believed were sent from corporate to remove anti-ICE signage from the location. One of the dozen-plus agitators harassing the employees, 51-year-old Heather Anderson, is behind the camera hurling expletive-laced questions and demands at the two employees.
“Let’s hear it, Delaney, loud and proud, baby. You want to say it, let’s f*cking say it,” Anderson shouts while pointing the camera at the two women who are barely afforded an opportunity to speak before being interrupted by Anderson and another unidentified woman.
The duo was being encircled by the hostile crowd of students inside of the studio, with the crowd occasionally gesturing support of the harassment by engaging in finger-snapping and brief applause whenever the women continued their barrage of verbal attacks.
When one of the employees pointed out they were being “berated” by the hostile crowd, Anderson cut her off and exclaimed, “You’re not being berated - you’re being asked hard questions - berating is what our neighbors are living through!”
CorePower reportedly sent an email out to members of the Minneapolis studio following the incident, with one Reddit post detailing the contents of the email which read in part, “We are a place for mindfulness, belonging, and acceptance for those who wish to practice, and we have zero tolerance for aggressive conduct in our studios. Any action that is counter to our values or risks the safety of our staff or students will not be tolerated.”
A since-deleted Instagram story posted to the company’s official account echoed similar sentiments to those expressed in the alleged email sent out to studio members, while also expressing that the company does not support “the violent ICE raids happening in Minneapolis,” and that the company is sending out “approved ICE signage” to studio locations across the country.
While the company seemingly caved to the demands of the anti-ICE agitators that encircled their employees earlier in February, the company also reportedly terminated the memberships of those involved in the hostile act. Speaking to the New York Post following her ban from the studio, Anderson stated, “By the way, every single business in Minneapolis has [an anti-ICE sign] on their door right now - it’s not like we were asking for something out of the loop.”
Anderson seemingly doesn’t regret her hostile actions toward the CorePower yoga employees, further telling the Post,” What I said in that video landed.”
A CorePower yoga studio out of Minneapolis turned into a bit of a chaotic scene earlier in February as students encircled two employees at the location who they believed were sent from corporate to remove anti-ICE signage from the location. One of the dozen-plus agitators harassing the employees, 51-year-old Heather Anderson, is behind the camera hurling expletive-laced questions and demands at the two employees.
“Let’s hear it, Delaney, loud and proud, baby. You want to say it, let’s f*cking say it,” Anderson shouts while pointing the camera at the two women who are barely afforded an opportunity to speak before being interrupted by Anderson and another unidentified woman.
The duo was being encircled by the hostile crowd of students inside of the studio, with the crowd occasionally gesturing support of the harassment by engaging in finger-snapping and brief applause whenever the women continued their barrage of verbal attacks.
When one of the employees pointed out they were being “berated” by the hostile crowd, Anderson cut her off and exclaimed, “You’re not being berated - you’re being asked hard questions - berating is what our neighbors are living through!”
CorePower reportedly sent an email out to members of the Minneapolis studio following the incident, with one Reddit post detailing the contents of the email which read in part, “We are a place for mindfulness, belonging, and acceptance for those who wish to practice, and we have zero tolerance for aggressive conduct in our studios. Any action that is counter to our values or risks the safety of our staff or students will not be tolerated.”
A since-deleted Instagram story posted to the company’s official account echoed similar sentiments to those expressed in the alleged email sent out to studio members, while also expressing that the company does not support “the violent ICE raids happening in Minneapolis,” and that the company is sending out “approved ICE signage” to studio locations across the country.
While the company seemingly caved to the demands of the anti-ICE agitators that encircled their employees earlier in February, the company also reportedly terminated the memberships of those involved in the hostile act. Speaking to the New York Post following her ban from the studio, Anderson stated, “By the way, every single business in Minneapolis has [an anti-ICE sign] on their door right now - it’s not like we were asking for something out of the loop.”
Anderson seemingly doesn’t regret her hostile actions toward the CorePower yoga employees, further telling the Post,” What I said in that video landed.”
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