Protesters advocate to ‘end the ICE age’

 

By SUE SUCHYTA

Sunday Times Newspapers

LINCOLN PARK – Activists called for the federal government to “end the ICE age” Feb. 13, with banners and signs displayed on the Champaign Road overpass above both directions of the I-75 freeway.

The overpass signs targeted evening rush hour commuters on the northbound and southbound sides of the freeway. 

Protester and Lincoln Park City Councilmember Jason Behr said it is important to keep protesting to defend people who are powerless and marginalized, as well as to stand up for democracy and the Constitution.

He said a lot of people driving on the freeway and Champaign Road were honking horns to show their support.

“I just hope that people who might not be paying attention to the issue will see this and pay attention and maybe get involved,” Behr said. “It is above freezing and we are hardy Michiganders, and I am happy to support this for my city.”

Political hopeful Joanna Whaley of Lincoln Park said she was happy to see people standing up to say no to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“I hope that all these people get the same message: We just want to make sure that our Latino community and foreign-born community are safe,” she said. “Really, we want our entire city to be safe, and there’s a peaceful message of that here today.”

Protest organizer Dr. Jessica Schering of Trenton said the ongoing protests are important because ICE needs to be curtailed and reforms are needed.

“We want masks off, we want badges, we want video cameras,” she said. “I think what we just saw in Minnesota was horrifying the past couple of weeks, so we want accountability, especially from the higher-ups, and they need to attest for the things that they have done to Pretti and Good.”

U.S. citizens and Minneapolis residents Renee Good, 37, died Jan. 7 and Alexi Pretti, 37, died Jan. 24 after being shot by ICE agents in separate incidents.

“There is also a concern with (ICE) potentially buying a facility in Romulus,” Schering said. “We don’t want it, we don’t need it and we don’t need to be the breeding ground for their evil and twisted ways that they are going about this.”

She said those gathered to protest ICE actions are passionate about their cause because they are all hurt by what is happening across the country.

“Everyone has been touched by the effects of ICE and we just want to support each other and, frankly, have a little fun with pool noodles,” Schering said, pointing to the colorful foam cylinders the protesters were waving along with their signs.

 

Protest organizer Lorena Ramirez-Baran of Wyandotte said she feels the demonstrators have made great progress.

“I think that the people who thought this was OK realize that this administration is not OK,” she said. “People are waking up and they are showing up and they want to defend democracy and their neighbors – all their neighbors – it doesn’t matter where they came from, who they pray to, if they pray at all; we want to defend each other.”

Ramirez-Baran said MAGA’s “mission of hate” is losing, because people don’t hate each other.

“We actually love each other, and that’s why we show up time and time again,” she said.

Ramirez-Baran said the Downriver group will hold a “No Kings” protest on March 28, and as long as the current administration continues its destructive practices they will continue to show up and protest.

“This isn’t what we want,” she said. “This isn’t our America, and I think when we make this better at the other end of this it will be so much better than it has ever been before.”

Ramirez-Baran said people are experiencing a wakeup call.

“We deserve better,” she said. “We want to give our kids better.”