In a significant response to recent violence involving ICE agents, more than a thousand protests are set to take place across the United States this Saturday and Sunday. The demonstrations come in the wake of ICE shootings that resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to two others in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon. Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, emphasized the purpose of these protests, 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.”
In New York City, large crowds marched through the streets of Manhattan, many shielding themselves from the winter rain with umbrellas. In Tucson, Arizona, demonstrators gathered outside the office of Republican representative Juan Ciscomani, while in Stuart, Florida, a crowd formed outside the office of representative Brian Mast, who has publicly defended the actions of the ICE agent involved in the fatal shooting. Protest organizer Barbara Turitz expressed her gratitude for the turnout, stating, “We’re thrilled that so many people came out to memorialize Renee Good.”
Connecticut also saw significant participation, with about 200 individuals protesting outside a Home Depot in Fairfield. Meg Doyle, a member of Bridgeport Resists, highlighted the urgency of raising awareness about the situation, saying, “We’re raising awareness of what’s happening in our country... we’re going to make change.”
In Philadelphia, protesters began their march at city hall and made their way to the federal detention center, chanting phrases like “ICE has got to go” and “no fascist USA.” This demonstration was part of a series of protests occurring in the city in recent days. Several cities in North Carolina, including Durham and Raleigh, also participated in the nationwide movement, with demonstrators carrying upside-down American flags and banners reading “Stop Looking Away!” and “It’s ICE Cold in America.” Amy Aponte, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, articulated the fear shared by many, stating, “If they can shoot her, if they kill her, they can kill you. They can kill me for no reason.”
The protests reflect escalating tensions in communities where ICE and federal agents have been actively enforcing immigration laws, leading to threats, arrests, and violence against undocumented immigrants. The tragic death of Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good, who was killed during an ICE immigration sweep, has further fueled public outrage. Footage from the shooting, captured by community members attempting to disrupt ICE operations, quickly circulated online, igniting widespread demonstrations. By the evening of Good's death, thousands had gathered at the site, and local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, voiced their discontent, urging ICE to leave the city.
The situation intensified with another incident in Portland, where ICE agents shot two Venezuelan immigrants outside a hospital. Protests in Portland escalated as well, resulting in six arrests amidst growing public dissent. This weekend, the ICE Out for Good weekend of action aims to mobilize events in every state, from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, to Machias in eastern Maine. Indivisible, along with the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, is actively coordinating these protests and updating an online tracker to keep the public informed about vigils, rallies, and protests happening nationwide.
As the protests unfold, Greenberg reiterated the demands of the demonstrators: “We demand justice for Renee, ICE out of our communities, and action from our elected leaders. Enough is enough.” The sentiment was echoed by Steven Eubanks, a 51-year-old protester in Durham, North Carolina, who expressed his determination to stand against such violence, stating, “We can’t allow it. We have to stand up.”