NEW YORK (PIX11) — Marches continued around the country this weekend in response to the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
A demonstration took over Fifth Avenue starting from the Upper East Side on Sunday afternoon, with protesters also calling out the Trump Administration on other issues.
“You have the ICE raids happening all across the country, you have the kidnapping, the war crime of the kidnapping of the President of Venezuela,” said protester Emma Kaplan.
Organizers billed the demonstration as “No War, No Kings, No ICE.”
“I’m definitely queer so I’m worried about my well-being. I’m worried about my trans friends’ well-being,” said protester Sarah Nasatka.
“I feel they’re instigating wars all over at this point, including my own country, which they are attacking now, going after Greenland,” said protester Signe Aguirre.
Pictures of Renee Good also dotted the crowd as people demanded justice for the 37-year-old mother shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
“Despite the video, they’re saying it didn’t happen the way it happened,” said a protester named Barbara.
The Department of Homeland Security continues to defend the actions by ICE.
“The facts of the situation are the vehicle was weaponized, and it attacked the law enforcement officer. He defended himself and he defended those individuals around him,” said United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on CNN Sunday.
The protesters passed Trump Tower, along with the offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, before ending at 47th Street and 2nd Avenue.
Organizers said they want lawmakers to invoke the War Powers Resolution, block funding for both ICE and war and use “every available tool to rein in the Trump Administration.”
“The reality is we cannot rely on [the senators] to stop the fascism, but the people from below can compel them to do what’s needed,” said Kaplan.
Demonstrators said they hope there is power in numbers and their message echoes beyond New York City.
“People are frustrated. People need direction, they’re looking for direction,” said a protester named Dan.
“We can’t fight these outrages one at a time. We have to get rid of the source through non-violent resistance and that’s why we say Trump must go,” said Kaplan.
