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More than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Syracuse on Monday (January 12) to protest against the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in American cities. The rally began at Columbus Circle at 3:30 p.m. and proceeded to Clinton Square for a vigil at 4:30 p.m., where the crowd size grew to an estimated 1,600 people, according to CNY Central.
The protest was part of a nationwide movement organized by the "ICE Out for Good" coalition, which planned over 1,000 demonstrations across the country. The protests were sparked by the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. Demonstrators carried signs reading "No ICE in America" and chanted "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here" as they marched through Syracuse, reported New York Upstate.
The rally was organized by various local groups, including the Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace Syracuse, and the Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Network. Protesters expressed their discontent with the current administration's immigration policies and called for the removal of federal immigration authorities from their communities.
Nationwide, the demonstrations aimed to demand accountability and transparency regarding ICE's operations and to seek justice for Renee Good. Mother Jones reported that the protests were a response to a series of incidents involving ICE agents, which have raised concerns about the agency's actions and impact on communities.