200 American cities have started a general strike.

Recent reports from January 2026 indicate a significant general strike movement initiated in Minneapolis in protest against ICE activities. According to Payday Report, solidarity actions related to this strike have spread to at least 250 cities nationwide. The Minneapolis AFL-CIO and other labor unions have called for coordinated strike actions, with some reports noting that around 200 businesses in Minneapolis alone planned closures on January 23.newrepublic.comnewrepublic.comIf Anyone Can Pull Off a General Strike, It’s Minnesotans While the term 'started a general strike' can vary in interpretation, the evidence shows widespread participation in strike-related activities and solidarity protests across hundreds of cities. However, not all these cities may have had full-scale general strikes; many are described as solidarity actions or planned participation. The Reddit post and coverage by The Stranger focus on the Twin Cities but acknowledge the broader movement.thestranger.comthestranger.comMinnesotans Launch General Strike Against ICE+3 more

Historical context from sources like the Seattle General Strike Project and Wikipedia clarifies that general strikes are rare and significant events, making this current movement notable. Other sources emphasize the growing scale but also note ongoing organizing efforts.depts.washington.edudepts.washington.eduIndustrial Workers of the World in the Seattle General Strikeen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.orgGeneral strike+1 more

In summary, while the claim is broadly supported by multiple independent sources reporting widespread strike solidarity across over 200 cities, the exact nature and intensity of the strikes vary by location, so 'have started a general strike' should be understood as a large-scale coordinated movement rather than uniform full strikes in every city.