Protesters target State College officials for ‘lack of action’ against ICE
A group of protesters marched to the State College Municipal Building on Monday evening, where they chanted demands to the Borough Council — which was meeting inside — to do more to protect the community from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The group of about 40 people also taped signs on entrances of the municipal building, condemning the borough for enabling “ICE terror.” They also taped flyers onto vehicles in the parking lot, including police cars, that depicted Borough Council President Evan Myers, Mayor Ezra Nanes and borough police Chief Joseph Merrill in a “wanted” poster design.
“The State College Borough refuses to pass a binding ordinance that prohibits collaboration with ICE, so what we say to the Borough Council is that we see you and your lack of action,” a member of the People’s Defense Front who requested anonymity told the CDT. “Today is a day for people’s justice, and we are not going to let ourselves be attacked. The State College Police Department cannot be working with ICE.”
Monday’s protest, which started on Penn State’s campus, was organized by People’s Defense Front and the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, two groups that have been active in other anti-ICE demonstrations this year. After a person in the borough police department’s coverage area was taken into ICE custody on March 25, the groups accused State College Police Department of assisting ICE. The department has said it had no prior knowledge of ICE’s plans and neither participated in nor was asked to assist.
Myers reiterated that Monday, saying that the borough police department does not aid ICE. He told the CDT after the meeting, however, that he’d be interested in talking to protesters and discussing an ordinance that protects immigrants. Two residents, including a member of the Centre County Rapid Response Network, asked council to pass an ordinance that blocks the use of employees and resources being used for ICE enforcement operations.
“This council are allies of the people that came and protested, we are not opponents of it. We stand squarely on the side of immigrants,” Myers said.
Myers emphasized his willingness to meet with those who protested in support of an ordinance and to collaborate on solutions that are legal within Pennsylvania law.
He referenced a resolution for ICE reform that he voted in favor of but that did not receive enough votes from the council earlier this year, with some members concerned that it would have attracted more ICE agents in the community. However, Myers said he is open to discussing ways to take action.
“I think the ICE spotlight is everywhere, and if you don’t raise your voice, silence equals acceptance. So if you remain silent, it’s going to happen anyway. You've got to say what you believe,” he said.
Organizers of Monday’s protest said that more rallies would be coming, and said that they are looking for more volunteers for their local patrol groups. The People’s Defense Front organizes about 60 patrols in townships and boroughs across the county to monitor and deter ICE activity, organizers said.
“We’ve got to get organized, and we’ve got to mobilize more people,” an unnamed speaker said. “We’re out there proactively patrolling, ready to come and confront ICE whenever to drive them out. We’re also organizing a defense team in every workplace in town, so that way, if ICE does show up anywhere, we got people ready to confront them.”
