On Saturday, Feb. 8, protesters collected downtown Kalamazoo to protest President Donald Trump's actions on immigration. The protest started in Bronson Park then moved to Michigan Ave. During the protest, there were chants like, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state” and “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here.” The crowd protested for about four hours, then dispersed.
A group of protesters hold up different signs protesting against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and their recent increased activity under President Donald Trump. Since Trump took office in January, deportations and arrests related to immigration laws have seen a drastic uptick.
A man rides in the bed of a truck holding a Mexican flag, while someone else holds a second flag out of the passenger window. The truck was one of many who drove through the streets during the protest.
Chants of “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” rang out as people in the crowd held up various signs in English and Spanish. “Can’t be illegal on stolen land,” was a common phrase, but others included more personalized messages.
“Dump Trump” and “No one is illegal on stolen land” were messages shown on signs during the protest. The issue of immigration has become a major source of conflict since President Trump’s inauguration.
A protester holds up a sign protesting mass detentions and deportations. The crowd was chanting, “no fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” in protest of expanded ICE activity.
Different people of all ages were present and involved in the protest. Many carried homemade signs with personalized messages about things that matter to them and their families.
Mass deportations are hotly debated subjects, and many people were protesting against them due to their side effects. Many people come to the U.S “just want a better life” and feel that Trump's policies limit their ability to live.
A group of protesters gather in front of the Crawlspace Comedy Theatre and hold signs that read “Immigrants make America great!” and “Hate never made America great.”