Students walked out of class on Friday, Jan. 30, at 11:30 a.m. to gather at the Arts & Sciences fountain and march around campus to speak out against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) recent involvement in the deaths and deportation of citizens.
The protest was organized and led by the GCSU Mutual Aid Society as part of a greater nationwide anti-ICE strike and walkout involving hundreds of schools.
“The intention of this strike is to gather Georgia College students as best we can, to show what the power of organizing can do,” said Patrick Lingafelt, president of GCSU Mutual Aid Society.
The protest called for an end to ICE operations in Minnesota and justice for affected individuals. A strike was held against shopping, school and work as well.
Other activist clubs joined Mutual Aid, such as the GCSU Black Student Alliance.
“We cannot go along with our normal, everyday lives when people are going through these tough times,” said Daisha Brown, president of the Black Student Alliance.
On Jan. 7, 37-year-old mother, Renee Good, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Good was in her SUV, partially blocking a residential street, while observing a group of ICE agents a few blocks from her home.
According to Reuters, Good attempted to pull away from the scene, appearing to make contact with ICE officer Jonathan Ross as she reversed. Reuters could not determine how the contact was made. Ross then fired three shots at Good as she drove away.
Good’s SUV crashed into a parked car and a lamppost shortly after the incident. She was later taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Only a few weeks later, on Jan. 24, 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti was also shot multiple times by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to the New York Times, Pretti was attending an anti-ICE protest when an agent pushed a woman to the ground. He tried to intervene and was then pepper-sprayed and brought to the ground by several agents. An agent then fired at him 10 times within 5 seconds.
These deaths, in addition to the six others in ICE detention facilities in January, have caused national outrage. Students at more than 100 Georgia high schools and universities walked out to protest against ICE.
The GCSU protest was attended by hundreds of students and faculty who wanted to exercise their First Amendment right of free speech and support a cause they believe in.
For many participants, the protest represented more than just a public demonstration. It served as a space for students to come together, share their beliefs and show solidarity with others who feel directly affected by the issue.
“It is very empowering and important for people to know they’re not alone and that there are people who stand with them and stand for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” said Avery Schock, a junior history major.
Lauren Bricker, a junior physics major, was another student who attended the protest.
“We didn’t vote to have ICE have this power, and we are here to show that there are people who are willing to stand up and take action against this,” Bricker said.
In addition to the protestors that showed up, many students and faculty members stopped by to watch.
“It makes us feel good that our community was so collective,” said Celia McDaniel, a senior economics major. McDaniel was watching the protest from the outskirts with her friends, along with a few other students and faculty members.
For those students passing by, the strong turnout signaled a level of engagement that extended beyond the event itself.
Amanda Bass, a sophomore biology major, who walked by the protest on her way to work, found the turnout to be impressive.
“It is encouraging, because if these people are willing to go out and protest for 30 minutes to an hour, they’re willing to drive to a polling station and vote,” Bass said.
Another Mutual Aid protest against ICE is scheduled for March 4th.
To stay informed about future campus demonstrations, check the bulletin boards in A&S, the Russell Library and The Den. For students who would like to get involved with Mutual Aid, visit their Instagram page @gcsu_mutual_aid.
