Thousands march in anti-ICE protest in New York City: ‘If it’s them today, it’s us tomorrow’

Key Highlights

• They also chanted, “Chinga la migra” – which is a colloquial way to say “fuck immigration enforcement” in Spanish. Anti-ICE protests being held across US as organizers urge national strikeRead moreThe demonstration in New York was part of a nationwide day of action advocating for “no work, no school, no shopping” to protest the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdowns. After a series of speeches at Foley Square, demonstrators began marching north through the ice-covered streets of Manhattan. Congressional candidate Brad Lander – a former New York City comptroller who unsuccessfully ran for mayor – was among those demonstrating after spending days in Minneapolis, where federal agents ignited public outrage by shooting Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti to death on 7 January and 24 January, respectively. People in Minneapolis “are heartbroken – and they are enraged”, Lander said of the two 37-year-old US citizens’ killings. Lander, who in 2025 repeatedly protested at the New York City ICE office, where immigrants recently detained by the agency are held, also said: “They are organizing to protect their neighbors, and they know the eyes of the world are on them.”Young people and students led many of the chants on Friday. John Eddy, a student from Las Vegas, came to the anti-ICE protest after refusing to attend class all day.“We’re students – we took the full day off of school,” Eddy said.
• “We haven’t been to any classes at all.
• We are out here.”His friend, Abdou Seye, had just arrived from Minneapolis, where he is from and where his family is based.“Really it’s ‘Fuck ICE,’” Seye said.
• “You have to do what you have to do.”Referring to Pretti and Good, he continued: “The thing is, if it’s them today, it’s us tomorrow, so we have to keep going.
• We have to keep this up.”Throughout the protests in Minneapolis, Seye observed how officials confronted demonstrators there aggressively.