Thousands of protesters took to the streets of New York City on Friday, braving subzero temperatures in a show of defiance against the Trump administration's aggressive deportation campaign. Chanting slogans such as "Abolish ICE!" and "Chinga la migra," the crowd poured into Foley Square before embarking on a march through Manhattan.
Among the protesters were young people, students, and former city officials who had lost loved ones to the agency's actions. Brad Lander, a congressional candidate, spoke about the need for collective action, saying "If it's them today, it's us tomorrow" - a sentiment echoed by fellow protester Abdou Seye, whose family is from Minneapolis, where immigration agents recently killed two 37-year-old US citizens.
The protests were part of a nationwide day of action, with demonstrators demanding "no work, no school, no shopping" to protest the administration's brutal crackdowns. Lander noted that people in Minneapolis are "heartbroken and enraged" following the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and that protesters are organizing to protect their neighbors.
As demonstrators marched through Manhattan, they were met with solidarity from onlookers, including a man who blasted music from his stereo and sat on top of his car, waving and smiling. The protest drew attention to the agency's actions, which have resulted in the deaths of several individuals, including Keith Porter in Los Angeles and Silverio Villegas GonzΓ‘lez in Illinois.
The organizers of the protests are calling for federal immigration agents to leave Minneapolis, citing economic pressure through work stoppages and consumer boycotts as a way to demand accountability and reform. As one protester put it, "We're not going to take this lying down." The sentiment was echoed by young people like John Eddy, who refused to attend class all day to participate in the protest.
The rally in New York City served as a reminder of the widespread opposition to the Trump administration's deportation campaign, and the need for collective action to demand justice and accountability.
Among the protesters were young people, students, and former city officials who had lost loved ones to the agency's actions. Brad Lander, a congressional candidate, spoke about the need for collective action, saying "If it's them today, it's us tomorrow" - a sentiment echoed by fellow protester Abdou Seye, whose family is from Minneapolis, where immigration agents recently killed two 37-year-old US citizens.
The protests were part of a nationwide day of action, with demonstrators demanding "no work, no school, no shopping" to protest the administration's brutal crackdowns. Lander noted that people in Minneapolis are "heartbroken and enraged" following the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and that protesters are organizing to protect their neighbors.
As demonstrators marched through Manhattan, they were met with solidarity from onlookers, including a man who blasted music from his stereo and sat on top of his car, waving and smiling. The protest drew attention to the agency's actions, which have resulted in the deaths of several individuals, including Keith Porter in Los Angeles and Silverio Villegas GonzΓ‘lez in Illinois.
The organizers of the protests are calling for federal immigration agents to leave Minneapolis, citing economic pressure through work stoppages and consumer boycotts as a way to demand accountability and reform. As one protester put it, "We're not going to take this lying down." The sentiment was echoed by young people like John Eddy, who refused to attend class all day to participate in the protest.
The rally in New York City served as a reminder of the widespread opposition to the Trump administration's deportation campaign, and the need for collective action to demand justice and accountability.