Approximately 50 people representing various organizations, including Veterans for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and The Communist Party of the United States,  protested against ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in downtown Columbus, Ohio last Tuesday, June 17, 2025.  The protest repeats each Tuesday from 4:30-6PM.

Protestors walked with signs and chanted “Stop ICE” at specific intersections near parking garages where workers were leaving their jobs at 5:00 PM.  Protesters loudly voiced phrases such as “Say it Loud. Say it Clear.  Immigrants are Welcome Here,” and “No ICE. NO KKK.  No Fascist USA.”

Speakers such as Mack, representing Veterans for Peace, explained that “The goal is to get the people who come by who are just every day working class Americans to see us. This is about opening up people’s eyes to this injustice that is being carried out by dystopian Gestapo. We must stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.  We’re here to make our voices known and we had hundreds of people honking at us in agreement today.  That’s hundreds of people that could be out here next week or out there next month when we’re out here.”  When he concluded, protestors joined him exclaiming, “Up, up with liberation. Down, down with occupation.  Up, up with immigration.  Down, down with occupation.” 

Darrin, also from Veterans for Peace, asked listeners to “Come back for the next couple Tuesdays at 4:30 when we will see this protest grow so we can occupy multiple intersections over time.” These protests have been peaceful, nonviolent, and did not obstruct traffic. In addition, no police have attended

The intent of the protest was to raise awareness about ICE’s illegal often violent arrests of people working at pharmacies, grocery stories, and restaurants.  Hundreds of drivers honked their horns in support of the protestors who waved, smiled, and raised their hands to show support.

These protests in Columbus follow similar ones around the country in which younger and older people have united to raise publicity about the Trump administration’s efforts to expel Black and brown people who have come to America for jobs and to raise families. Immigration advocates argue that ICE has become unduly aggressive and inhumane in its treatment of people, withholding food, water, and medical care. ICE agents are mostly unmonitored and often dressing in military gear that is unnecessarily threatening, including masks and helmets. Too often, people detained by ICE have no criminal or violent backgrounds. ICE targeted universities where many international students reside to pursue their education.

The administration’s goals are to work towards a country comprised mostly of White citizens as exemplified by their welcoming of Afrikaners, White businessmen from South Africa. Protestors explained they wanted to show support for similar gatherings, most recently in Los Angeles, where the administration brought in the National Guard to arrest protestors. 

ICE is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was created in 2003. Its job is to enforce immigration laws and identify and target individuals who violate them and threaten the safety of the public. Those who have illegally entered the country are picked up and sent to other countries often leaving family members behind.

As protests against ICE’s inhumane deportations have grown, the Trump Administration has sent in The National Guard to block the protestors, which has increased violent altercations in these areas.  The next protest in Columbus will be on Tuesday, June 24th between 4:30-6PM.