Hundreds gathered in Columbus Circle in Syracuse Monday to protest last week’s shooting of Minneapolis resident, and mother of three, Renee Good. She was the ninth ICE shooting in the U.S. in the last four months.
As the Trump Administration sends more agents to that region, protestors gathered around the country, including beneath the shadow of Christopher Columbus, and the bitter winter wind of the Salt City.
The crowd included college students, retirees, and many other people missing work.
“I'm just so fed up with this whole Trump deal,” said retired Syracuse resident David Arnold. “It's just a disgrace to the country, to the human race.”
He reflected the broader anger of the crowd, while signs, chants and featured speakers presented a scattered range of issues from a diversity of minds.
Ahsas Sidhu, a freshman at SUNY ESF, for one, was one of the protesters at the rally, he was missing class to stand with the crowd in freezing temperatures.
“I am a Punjabi American, I was born here," Sadhu said. "But you know, I've seen firsthand what ICE has done to my family and my people. And it's not right.”
Christina Czerney left work early to pick up her kids.
“I know how important it is to show up and stand up and speak up,” she said. “I brought my two children because I want them to see what this country really is, which is that we have more in common than we don't. And I believe at our core that we are all good and want the same things.”
Eight local social justice organizations organized the rally. That included the Syracuse chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
“We've seen ICE ramp up their tactics here locally, and we just want to send a message that this is not what we want for our neighbors,” said Tammy Honeywell, who led efforts for Syracuse DSA.
Honeywell said she moved quickly and is confident the movement is resilient and able to mobilize again rapidly.
“The Trump administration is unpredictable, and if something happens, we have the organizations and the coalition to be able to get things moving rather quickly,” she said with determination.
Speakers, for their part, decried a wide range of issues addressing Jewish and Native American rights, the war in Gaza, immigrant deportations, homophobia, but all were united in blaming the Trump Administration for their troubles. Many compared the harassment to the lead up of Hitler’s rise to power in the early 1930’s.
The protest was peaceful, as per the organizers’ instructions; however, it was not without dissent.
Ten minutes into the speeches, an individual stepped out of a black Suburban wearing a Trump mask and blaring clown music. The man hoisted pro-ICE signs, as protesters used cell phones to film and confront him until he left.
One protester was Amos Race, a bio-technology writer, who said he initially approached the pro-ICE demonstrator as a neighbor.
“I think it's important to remember that all of these people are our neighbors,” Race said. “The immigrants that have been rounded up by ICE are our neighbors. The people who have some questionable attitudes, as far as I'm concerned, are [also] our neighbors.”
The masked agitator was not the only one in Columbus Circle with differing views from the crowd. Syracuse resident, Paul Calderwood, and another man, stood at the outskirts of the crowd with their own pro-ICE/pro-Trump sign. While protesters threw insults and questioned his sign, none of those interactions were violent.
“I support ICE, and I have just as much right to be here as any of these people,” said Calderwood calmly. Despite vitriolic exchanges, Calderwood said he felt secure knowing he came with a friend.
“I've got my good buddy here watching my six. I hope we're all out here to peacefully protest. I mean, I am. I'm not here to start anything.”
Organizers are planning future actions until ICE leaves American cities.
