As the holiday season approaches, families are being broken up right before our very eyes. Immigration agents have already detained and arrested handfuls of victims across New York in November alone. With protestors swarming the streets of Chinatown, Canal Street, and other popular city areas, stand-offs are more prevalent than ever before. As ICE attempted to leave a parking garage this week, protestors decided to stand in the way in an effort to show their disapproval.
On Saturday morning, November 29, ICE agents and NYPD officials were trying to leave a parking garage as raids took place in the area. As the parking garage door opens, protestors completely swarm the area. A video was posted by Talia Jane on Twitter showing what happened. Protestors scream, “ICE out of New York!” and stand in front of the vehicle, piling up on both sides. Brave protestors approach the vehicle and even put traffic cones in front of the car so it can’t move forward. Agents and police tell protestors to back off but they stand their ground.
You can see literal lines of ICE agents packed in these vehicles, unable to leave the garage so they can harass more families across the city. The protestors even get in the police officer’s faces, who just stand there nodding along, knowing that they’re not about to go anywhere. According to news articles posted since the incident, the NYPD instructed the group to disperse. When they didn’t, officials responded in the only way they know – by causing fear. Several protestors and journalists were pepper-sprayed. One person was even taken into custody for throwing an unknown object.
ICE raids are nothing new in the city and have been happening for several weeks. In fact, ICE was present and detaining vendors on Canal Street only a month prior to this incident. A total of nine people were arrested by ICE, and several U.S. citizens were detained. Make it make sense, because it really doesn’t.
It’s safe to say that, throughout this time of turmoil in the city, communities are sticking together. Immigrant or non-immigrant, events like this show that people truly understand humanity and have each other’s backs. And it’s important for those in privileged situations to defend those who may fall prey to immigration enforcement and their cruel tactics that lack any humanity.
