On Friday, Jan. 30, thousands of San Franciscans congregated in Dolores Park to protest ICE and its recent crackdown on detaining immigrants, along with the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Many people left Convent among other San Francisco high schools to participate.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, is a federal law enforcement service that works under the Department of Homeland Security. In recent months, eight deaths have been linked to ICE operations. Six people have died in detention centers across the country, as well as the deaths of Pretti and Good, which gained significant media attention as both were shot in Minneapolis by ICE agents. Both of these deaths have since been reported as homicides. Minneapolis has also been the site of other controversial ICE actions, including the detention of 5-year-old Liam Ramos as he returned home from preschool.
These handlings by ICE as well as the government’s response to the deaths and recent detentions of “illegal aliens” sparked the protests across the nation last Friday. Demonstrations gathered under the banner “no work, no school, no shopping”: a motto hoping to target and bring awareness to ICE’s treatment of citizens and immigrants within the nation. This slogan was used on the Instagram account @sfyouthagainstice as a rallying cry to get people to leave their schools or workplaces at 12 p.m. and rally in Dolores. Many Convent students attended the protest with their friends. Nina McGarry, a junior at Convent, participated in the protest in this fashion.
“I went because I think it’s important to support and show up for things I believe in,” McGarry said. “The protest was empowering and in no way violent. While I was aware that there was risk in showing up, I think the intentions of people attending the protest were pure,”
With the sun shining across protesters, chants and rallying cries such as “Chinga la Migra” or “Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” rang through the park. Everywhere one looked, signs could be seen carrying slogans such as “Melt Ice,” and “The wrong ice is melting,” with drawn-on images of polar bears.
“Along with politicians, a number of students were up on the podium speaking because the protest is youth-focused,” McGarry stated. “If youth support an issue, then the rest of society is likely to follow suit.”
Many adults were also in the crowd. Although no Convent teachers were known to leave school, many people took the opportunity to support the protest. In some cities, it was recommended to wear black in solidarity if you were unable to attend a demonstration.
“I like the fact that students are engaged with what is going on in the country,” English teacher Sharanya Naik said. “No matter which “side” of politics students are on, civic engagement is important.”
The protest progressed into a march that ended at City Hall, where San Franciscans’ cries could be heard throughout the streets. Since these protests took place, ICE agents must wear a body-worn camera program to increase transparency. Additionally, 700 ICE personnel have left Minneapolis due to government notice. The protest marked a historic day in the nation and showed how, when thousands of voices dare to speak, change happens.
“It’s one thing to say you believe in something, but it’s another to act on it and go to a protest,” said McGarry.
