Anti-ICE protesters march through downtown State College streets
A group of anti-ICE protesters marched through downtown State College on Thursday evening after a demonstration at the Allen Street Gates.
At least 50 people took part in the 6:30 p.m. protest at the gates, holding signs reading “F--- Trump,” “Drive out ICE” and chanting. After about 45 minutes, the group began marching down College Avenue, then onto Fraser Street, Beaver Avenue and Kelly Alley.
Chants including “Stand up, fight back” were heard through the streets as the protesters blocked traffic and moved from street to street.
The “emergency solidarity action” was organized by the groups People’s Defense Front - Northern Appalachia and Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity. Starting in Los Angeles, protests have spread and intensified in recent days across the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and ICE raids.
According to social media posts, Thursday’s protest was in support of protesters in LA, where Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, as well as “recent ICE activity in State College.”
State College borough spokesperson Kayla Lafferty on Wednesday said the borough was “not aware of any recent ICE or immigration enforcement activity.” A Penn State spokesperson on Thursday also said the university was not aware of any ICE activity on its campuses.
When the group was on Calder Way, a person wearing a mask set an American flag on fire in the roadway while others looked on. Another person with a megaphone said by burning the flag, they weren’t desecrating the people of the United States.
“What we are desecrating is the ruling class of the United States,” the person said, followed by cheers and chants including “working people, give them hell, it is right to rebel,” and “when immigrants are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.”
About an hour after the protest first started, the group ended up back at the Allen Street Gates. Several State College police officers were present during parts of the march, but it ended without incident. Early in the protest, there was a conflict between a counter-protester and the members of the group, which lasted for a few minutes.
Ayah, a member of the People’s Defense Front, said they’re standing in solidarity with, and taking inspiration from, the LA protests against ICE.
“It is right to rebel and it’s right to fight those systems of oppression,” she said.
Another member of the People’s Defense Front, Ricky, echoed that during his speech at the gates and said they need to make Centre County a place where ICE doesn’t enter out of fear of facing resistance from everyday people, like those at the protest. They can do that, he said, by “getting organized and being fearless.”
As cars stopped and honked behind the protesters as they marched down Beaver Avenue, another organizer said being in the streets and shutting down traffic was important to their message.
“If this is an inconvenience, think of how inconvenient it is to be ripped from your community, your children,” she said.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM.
