Hundreds of demonstrators braved freezing temperatures Friday afternoon to gather on Green Street in protest of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota. The rally was part of a larger national shutdown, done in response to the recent killings of multiple civilians by federal agents — most recently Alex Pretti on Saturday.
“We are taking a step up today to withhold our labor, withhold ourselves from school, and not spend any money to … show that we as a country and we as a student body are not okay with what is going on right now,” said an organizer who identified himself only as James Bromley.
Chants of “F— ICE” kicked off the protest at Alma Mater, with demonstrators slowly spilling onto Green Street shortly after 2 p.m. The crowd then marched down Green Street toward First Street, halting briefly for speeches before returning to their starting point.
While police and the University’s I-Team were spotted, their presence was minimal, with one I-Team member appearing to assist protesters by blocking cars as they marched back toward Alma Mater.
Martin Wolske, professor in Information Sciences, was one such protester.
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“It’s a movement building that I see happening in my midst,” Wolske said. “It’s joyous even in the midst of the horrors that we’re experiencing.”
Since his inauguration last year, President Donald Trump has made border control and deportation one of his top priorities, with ICE primarily leading this effort. This has involved federal agents conducting large-scale raids in cities including Chicago and Minneapolis. These often highly publicized operations have led to confrontations with community members who disagree with their actions.
Two recent immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota resulted in agents shooting and killing civilians. On Jan. 7, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, and on Saturday, a Border Patrol official killed Alex Pretti. In both cases, federal and local officials disagreed as to whether the violence was justified.
ICE’s tactics have since become increasingly controversial, with Republicans becoming increasingly divided over the issue. Pretti’s death has triggered bipartisan calls from Congress for an investigation of the shooting as GOP lawmakers express concern about ICE’s actions.
The protest on Friday was the second in Champaign since Pretti’s death, with community members also organizing on Monday at the Champaign County Courthouse.
A video of Pretti’s death has circulated, contradicting the federal account of the killing. Bromley said this footage is part of why this has become a “breaking moment” for protests.
“People do not want to be lied to,” Bromley said. “They are seeing these terrible things happening in our streets, and they’re seeing our leadership lie to us and treating us like we are idiots. That’s not something that we can tolerate.”
Numerous registered student organizations, including the Illini Democrats, Left Wing Students for Change, Young Democratic Socialists of America and the Students for Socialism and Liberation, endorsed the protest on social media. The Illinois Student Council posted a video supporting student protesters and encouraging them to stay safe.
Joaquin Valencia, junior in Engineering, also joined the marchers, hoisting a large Mexican flag over his shoulder. Valencia said the flag was to show pride in his identity in a time when his community feels under threat.
“For me, it’s about being here with the people, showing that we are not afraid,” Valencia said. “I hope to inspire other people to be proud of themselves.”
ICE has been primarily targeting Latino immigrants in their deportation efforts, a reality that has caused fear for Latinos throughout the nation. A Pew Research poll from April revealed that 42% of Hispanic adults “worry that they or someone close to them could be deported.” These efforts were further enabled by a Supreme Court ruling that permitted ICE to conduct immigration stops on the basis of racial profiling.
Aylin Salgado, junior in Media, is a child of immigrant parents. She protested, carrying a sign stating, “Immigrants built this nation.”
“My parents are immigrants; I’m the product of immigrants,” Salgado said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here, and I can recognize that coming from a place of privilege, it is my job to speak up for those who can’t.”
Although she has legal status, Salgado said Trump’s crackdown has her afraid she could be targeted.
“I’m literally carrying my passport on me,” Salgado said. “It’s not about legal status anymore, and we’ve seen how many citizens just because they’re racially profiled as looking Hispanic and of a minority, have been detained, have been subject to abuse.”
Salgado said she hopes the protest demonstrates that the vulnerable communities being targeted by ICE are not alone.
“It’s definitely a very painful thing to see and witness, but we are doing everything we can to try and change the circumstances and the scenarios that they are facing,” Salgado said.
