Through the morning in downtown Minneapolis, security guards from three Twin Cities firms have been striking. Their cries and drums can be heard a good 32 stories up.

Not all security guards who work for ABM, American and Securitas walked off the job at 6 a.m. today, but those at 16 buildings where the firms provide security services are on the picket line. Some of those buildings include Ameriprise Financial, the U.S. Bank Building and Block E in downtown Minneapolis, [Service Employees International Union Local 26 spokesperson David] Zaffrann said.

Block E is unprotected!

!!!

The issue at hand is affordable health care.

There are scheduled strikes in downtown St. Paul throughout the day as well. The strikes are not expected to continue into tomorrow.

(thx to @cvalenti, @opheliac9, @gorillagirl, @jth)