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Activists in Syracuse are organizing a march today to protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest, set to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Columbus Circle, will be followed by a march to Clinton Square for a vigil at 4:30 p.m. The demonstration is part of a nationwide response to the recent shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
According to Syracuse.com, nearly a dozen local activist groups, including the Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America and the CNY Solidarity Coalition, are involved in organizing the event. Protesters are demanding that ICE officers leave cities across the country, citing fears and concerns over the agency's actions in Central New York. Recent ICE operations have targeted individuals such as restaurant owners, farmworkers, and hospital employees.
Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens has publicly stated that city police will not cooperate with ICE under her leadership. During a meeting with residents, she emphasized that immigration enforcement should not target individuals with strong community ties. Owens highlighted the importance of diversity in Syracuse and reiterated that undocumented residents should not be criminalized solely for their immigration status.
The protest aims to pressure local officials, including Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, to reject collaboration with ICE and support the New York for All Act, which seeks to protect immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement.