Hundreds turn out for anti-ICE procession, sit-in
By Alexis Crandall
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WILLISTON, Vermont (WPTZ) — Almost 300 People gathered to march from Industrial Avenue to Harvest Lane, protesting actions taken by ICE. They carried tombstones and coffins with the names of those who died in ICE custody.
Protestors gathered in South Burlington at the White Cap Industrial Park where the National Criminal Analysis Targeting Center is housed, drawing chalk outlines of some of the people who have died in federal immigration custody.
“We want ice out of Vermont, but that begins with more people knowing that ICE is here and knowing what they do here,” said protestor Drew Hudson. “First and foremost, we want people to know what these two buildings do, how they’re connected to the broader things they may have seen video from Minneapolis, a video from Chicago, but not know that those tips are starting here in Vermont and that we have a role to play in this.”
The crowd then marched to the Harvest Lane Facility for a moment of silence and prayer.
“I think the ICE enforcement issue and the level of surveillance going on and the brutality of the whole thing really needs to end,” said Ned, a protester.
Lawyer David Kelley said he came ready to help out if the planned sit-in turned to arrests.
“We may be able to get back on track. I hope we can, but I feel like the rule of law and our Constitution have been badly injured and need to heal,” he said. “I think maybe we will begin that process.”
The sit-in stayed peaceful, with some receiving a paper saying they are subject to an investigation by the Department of Justice for obstructing access to federal property.
“It feels like what I have to face is so much less than what my immigrant friends and neighbors have to face that I’m glad to be doing this,” said Steve Crofter, one of the people to get a paper.
In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said: “While the First Amendment protects free speech and peaceful assembly, it doesn’t protect obstruction of entrances to federal facilities like the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center, which provides intelligence-driven leads for ICE and partner law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest criminal and other priority aliens who pose a threat to our nation’s communities.”
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