ICE Protesters Gather At Federal Building Complex Near Fort Snelling
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- People in the Twin Cities joined their voices on Tuesday with a movement across the nation. They publicly called for an end to immigrant camps at the border.
Hundreds blocked the exits of the Bishop Henry Whipple federal building that houses the offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Chants and songs outside ICE offices were met with competing honks from drivers trying to leave.
"I have no problem with the protest at all," driver Terry Anderson said. "I just have a problem with them blocking the road illegally."
Hundreds of protesters gathered near Fort Snelling to demand changes.
"We will not allow business to proceed as usual while people are locked up at the border," protester Track Trachtenberg said.
Organizers purposely picked the location.
"This is where they bring people before they're deported, and our goal is to interrupt business as usual for ICE," organizer Leah Soule said.
The actions blocked people from leaving parking lots from the park and ride and nearby offices, and stopped some in their tracks.
"Just trying to go home. They wanted a confrontation," one driver said.
Others wanted to leave but understood the cause.
"It just kind of rattles you a little bit, and I wanted to get home-- the only night I don't have my son," driver Katie Plouger said. "The irony is there's kids trapped in cages, so I'll wait."
After more than two hours, protesters parted to allow the truck and others to get through. Another group walked straight to the sheriff's deputies. Some in the human chain said they wanted to get a citation to show their commitment to the cause.
"We're in a state of crisis in this country, and nothing's going to change if we don't take action," one woman said.
Sheriff's deputies cited more than two dozen people.
