Indivisible, a grassroots organization advocating for progressive policies, has announced plans for over 1,000 protests across the United States in response to recent shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. These protests are in support of the “ICE Out for Good Weekend of Action.” They call for justice and accountability after the violent acts that have ignited demonstrations and outrage within these communities and around the country.
After the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, in late July by ICE agents, these protests erupted. This episode took place within the context of an immigration sweep in Minneapolis on January 7. Her prosecution in turn sparked outrage across the world. On the same day, that same evening, thousands of people showed up at the place where Good had been killed. Video of the shooting spread like wildfire across the internet, video that showcased the anguish and rage of community members who tried to come to his rescue.
Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, emphasized the significance of these protests, stating, “We demand justice for Renee, ICE out of our communities and action from our elected leaders. Enough is enough.” She emphasized how the protests specifically aim to challenge this tragic event. They aim to address the larger concern of damage inflicted by ICE activities across the country.
Indivisible has been working to document every vigil, rally, and protest being planned in response to these events. To keep folks plugged in to their ongoing efforts, they’re keeping an online tracker. The register highlights that actions are taking place all over the country, from coast to coast. They are being hosted from Honolulu in Hawaii to Machias on the downeast of eastern Maine. This grassroots mobilization reflects a collective desire for change and an end to what many perceive as unjust practices by ICE.
In the wake of the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a firm condemnation against ICE. He announced that they ought to “Get the fuck out” of the city. Fortunately, some Democratic lawmakers are making a bold stand. They have pledged to refuse funding to the Department of Homeland Security as a form of protest against the agency’s harmful and deadly practices.
In addition, the preemptive deployment of these over 2,000 ICE agents to the Twin Cities before the incident has come under fire. Protests have sprung up around the country from New York City to Oakland to Kansas City and Portland, Oregon in response to the recent violence. Greenberg remarked on the broader implications of these gatherings, stating, “This weekend, people all over are coming together not just to mourn the lives lost to ICE violence, but to confront a pattern of harm that has torn families apart and terrorized our communities.”