Around 50 people rallied in downtown Ketchikan on Saturday to protest the occupation of ICE or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was one of many protests across the country since Minneapolis resident Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in early January.
Elizabeth Nelson stood with her friends directly in front of the federal building in Ketchikan, holding a sign that said “stop trying to make hate happen.”
“I don’t have any strong belief that this is going to change anybody’s mind in any way shape or form,” Nelson said. “But I do believe that as citizens of this country, we need to be able to say what we believe.”
The protest also follows the recent arrests of two journalists reporting on ICE in Minneapolis, which caused backlash from civil rights groups nationwide.
So far this year, eight people have died at the hands of ICE agents.
Shelley Hewitt, another Ketchikan protestor, said she was fighting for democracy.
“Constitutional rights are being trampled on,” Hewitt said. “American citizens are being executed in the streets. We are a land of immigrants. United we stand, divided we fall. I feel like we all have to be out here and show up and put our bodies on the line.”
Even though the turmoil is less magnified in small towns like Ketchikan than in big cities, Hewitt said she’s supporting her neighbors.
“You know, if we think this isn’t eventually coming for us, we’re wrong,” Hewitt said. “And just because maybe we are more insulated… let our community know where you stand, what your morals are, your values.”
Demonstrators said they anticipate more events like this one in the near future.
