Protesters gather at Centre County Courthouse to oppose recent ICE activity

A group of about 50 people gathered in front of the Centre County Courthouse on Wednesday evening to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after recent ICE activity around Bellefonte.

The protest was organized by the People’s Defense Front of Northern Appalachia, the Centre County Rapid Response Network and the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, groups that have been involved in previous anti-ICE protests in State College. Wednesday’s protest was held where a worker was detained on March 4 by ICE, the groups wrote in social media posts.

“It’s incredible to see so many people out here for such a just cause, especially on a cold night like tonight, so thank you all for showing up and taking the time to stand with your community, because what happened two weeks ago here was absolutely disgusting,” an unnamed protest organizer said.

He continued: “I appreciate all of you coming out here to show your anger at that. It is good to feel angry at these types of things; it is good to kindle that anger. Remember that pain, remember that anger and use it to come out to actions like this, and get organized to keep fighting back.”

The protesters described the arrested man as a local food service worker who had lived in the area for about a decade. The Centre County Public Defender Office told the Centre Daily Times the man was one of its clients, but declined to share additional information.

Protesters also claimed the Centre County Sheriff’s Office had aided ICE in the arrest. In a phone call Thursday, Sheriff Bryan Sampsel said, “We didn’t help them.”

He said his office was aware of ICE’s presence but that his deputies only became involved during their “normal duties.” As the man attempted to find a way out of the courthouse, Sampsel said he set off an emergency alarm and hid for about 25 minutes.

It then became a security risk, Sampsel said. ICE detained the man on the fourth floor of the courthouse, he said. “We didn’t touch the guy,” Sampsel added. “... We didn’t assist them.”

The group also marched for about 10 minutes through downtown Bellefonte streets. Wielding anti-ICE signs, the group marched from the courthouse, down West High Street to the Bellefonte Waterfront property, where they remained for about 20 minutes singing chants like, “Tell them what ICE gets; people’s justice,” before disbanding around 8 p.m.

About halfway through the march, two Bellefonte police cruisers pulled up behind the crowd, requesting that they take their march to the sidewalks for safety reasons. Those requests fell on deaf ears, though, as the crowd continued marching through the streets until protesters reached their destination.

Ultimately, despite the protesters blocking traffic and singing anti-police chants to nearby officers at the waterfront, the event appeared to end without incident.

“I think it’s important and very heartening to see people come out in support of their neighbors, and for people to come out on the side of common sense and basic humanity,” Bellefonte Borough Councilman Zach Kelly said Wednesday. Kelly actively participated in the protest and spoke about the event at the end of Monday’s borough council meeting.

Event organizers encouraged those in attendance to keep up to date with area protests and to join a local patrol group.

Currently, protest organizers said Wednesday, the People’s Defense Front organizes about 50 patrols in townships and boroughs across the county to monitor and deter ICE activity.

“Taking one hour out of your week every week to do the patrols is a great step to take to consistently fight back — that’s how we get organized, and that’s how we win,” an organizer said.

CDT reporter Bret Pallotto contributed to this report