With ICE and DHS continuing their relentless deportation efforts, more and more people are growing agitated. Many have voiced their frustration over what they see as tyrannical behavior, and for some, it felt like the right time to take a stand through protest. Among the many demonstrations against ICE happening across the United States, one took place in Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately, things didn’t end peacefully, as one person was ultimately arrested during the event.
The situation unfolded when officers arrived at the 3100 block of Gulden Lane. What began as a peaceful protest in a nearby park later spilled into the street as night fell. Concerned about potential road blockages, police moved in to maintain order. That’s when tensions escalated. According to reports, one protester, Gerardo Velasquez, struck the window of a marked patrol car, allegedly in an attempt to break it.
When officers approached to arrest him, Velasquez fled. Police tackled him shortly after, but he resisted being handcuffed and reportedly used combative language. In the chaos that followed, Velasquez kicked an officer in the stomach. Other protesters tried to intervene, possibly seeing the police response as overly aggressive toward one of their own. Officers pushed back and used pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Velasquez continued to resist. At one point, he allegedly slapped an officer in the face, dislodging a contact lens. During the prolonged struggle, officers used a stun gun on him twice. In response, Velasquez reportedly tried to grab the officer’s stun gun, though he was unsuccessful.
Fortunately, things didn’t escalate further after that. Velasquez was eventually handcuffed and taken to Parkland Hospital for a medical evaluation. Once he was cleared, he was transported to Dallas County Jail by the police.
While internet users are often supportive of protestors, this time many weren’t so sympathetic toward Velasquez’s actions. A number of people agreed that attacking a police officer crossed a line, and that it wasn’t surprising he ended up in trouble. One user bluntly said, “Tip on how to avoid getting tackled by cops: Don’t do crimes.”
Others felt that the protest against ICE in Dallas was bound to run into problems from the start. Another Redditor commented, “There were three people ignoring the organizers at the protest. The organizers had clearly stated not to interact with the police and kept announcing it. But those three showed up in all black, brought their own megaphone, and started trying to stir things up as soon as the sun went down.”
