Within minutes of reports of raids in Nebraska on Tuesday, organizers used social media to put together a protest in Lincoln to speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the City/County Building, holding signs conveying their message: “Immigrants are welcome here.”
Drivers honked their horns in solidarity against ICE’s activities in Nebraska and across the country.
One protester showed up because of the raid happening earlier in the day in Omaha.
Celeste Timberlake, who knows people who have been arrested by ICE, said she confused by the agency’s motives.
“Their claim is that we are going to get dangerous people and gangsters off the street. … Then why are you showing up at my parents’ neighbor’s house, who’s a little old disabled lady?” Timberlake said.
One student at the protest said all people should be concerned.
“Today it might be people who look like me; tomorrow, who knows,” Manny said.
Many have a lot of fears for the future, saying these deportations seem different than the ones in previous administrations.
“It’s just mostly the way they are handling these deportations,” community outreach organizer Briana Salgado said. “I think people are losing their humanity.”
Salgado said past policies meant to prevent arrests in some places have been reversed.
“There was a form of due process and also a haven and safe place for immigrants so you wouldn’t be raided or deported from your school, as a child, or your church,” she said.
The crowd was filled with people from all walks of life, from people just passing by to activists like Jason Witmer, a policy fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska.
“I’m out here to support the people,” he said. “Everyone on our land is the people. We should never be regulating territory from people who come to get involved in our country.”
Source: Nebraska News