Thousands of people gathered in New York City's streets on Friday to protest the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign, donning thick coats, hats, and gloves to brave the biting cold. The protesters chanted slogans against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), likening it to the Ku Klux Klan and fascism. "Abolish ICE!" and "No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA!" echoed through the streets as demonstrators also chanted "Chinga la migra," a colloquial way of saying "fuck immigration enforcement" in Spanish.
The demonstration was part of a nationwide day of action calling for "no work, no school, no shopping" to protest the administration's brutal crackdowns on immigrants. Former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, who is running for Congress, participated in the march after visiting Minneapolis where federal agents sparked outrage by killing two young citizens.
People are outraged and heartbroken over the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and they're organizing to protect their neighbors. They know the world is watching them, said Lander. Young people and students were at the forefront of the chants, with one student from Las Vegas refusing to attend class to join the protest.
"We're students – we took the full day off of school," said John Eddy. "We haven't been to any classes at all. We are out here." His friend Abdou Seye, who is also from Minneapolis, echoed a similar sentiment: "The thing is, if it's them today, it's us tomorrow, so we have to keep going."
As the protest marched through Manhattan, people in their cars honked in solidarity, and some even joined in with music. Amidst the chaos, officials' tactics were criticized for being aggressive, including one protester whose mother was stuck behind city hall for nearly two days.
The nationwide protests are part of a broader call to action demanding accountability and reform from the administration's immigration policies. The protesters want federal agents to leave Minneapolis after a month-long operation that has sparked widespread outrage.
The demonstration was part of a nationwide day of action calling for "no work, no school, no shopping" to protest the administration's brutal crackdowns on immigrants. Former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, who is running for Congress, participated in the march after visiting Minneapolis where federal agents sparked outrage by killing two young citizens.
People are outraged and heartbroken over the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and they're organizing to protect their neighbors. They know the world is watching them, said Lander. Young people and students were at the forefront of the chants, with one student from Las Vegas refusing to attend class to join the protest.
"We're students – we took the full day off of school," said John Eddy. "We haven't been to any classes at all. We are out here." His friend Abdou Seye, who is also from Minneapolis, echoed a similar sentiment: "The thing is, if it's them today, it's us tomorrow, so we have to keep going."
As the protest marched through Manhattan, people in their cars honked in solidarity, and some even joined in with music. Amidst the chaos, officials' tactics were criticized for being aggressive, including one protester whose mother was stuck behind city hall for nearly two days.
The nationwide protests are part of a broader call to action demanding accountability and reform from the administration's immigration policies. The protesters want federal agents to leave Minneapolis after a month-long operation that has sparked widespread outrage.
. It's heartbreaking to see people being treated like this, especially those who are just trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. The idea of deporting thousands of people without due process is just unacceptable 
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. It shows that they're not afraid to speak out against injustice and fight for what's right. And I love how people from all walks of life are coming together to demand change - it's truly inspiring 
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. Using aggressive methods like keeping someone's mother stuck behind city hall for nearly two days is just cruel and unnecessary 
. We need to find a way to resolve these issues peacefully and respectfully.
. Immigration policies are not just about numbers or borders - they're about people, families, and communities who are being torn apart. We need to put a human face to this issue and demand compassion and understanding 
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. These protests, though perhaps initially driven by outrage over the tragic killings in Minneapolis, have morphed into a full-blown movement demanding systemic change and accountability 
. The use of the phrase "Chinga la migra" is particularly striking - it highlights the deep-seated fears and anxieties many immigrants face when interacting with ICE agents 
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. The solidarity shown by onlookers in their cars is also heartening - it underscores the sense of community and shared responsibility that underpins this movement.
. As Brad Lander so astutely observed, "the world is watching us" - and it's up to us to ensure that our actions reflect values of empathy, compassion, and human rights 
just seen the news about ppl protesting against mass deportation campaign in NYC & I'm totally with them!!! 
️ we gotta stand together as a community to fight for justice & equality! 
the US is supposed 2 b a country of freedom n justice, not fascism 
noICE that u all took a stand & spoke out, even when it's hard 
students r doin gr8 work organizing & participating in protests 
gotta love how people are just like "you know what, we're outta here" when it comes to school or work. Like, yeah, let's take a break and protest... sounds about right for the entitled youth of today 
. And who needs education when you can learn about oppression and systemic racism from your peers? 
At least they're trying to keep things real, though - I mean, if it's happening in Minneapolis, it's happening everywhere else too... we might as well get used to it 
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we need to stand together with people like Brad Lander who's taking a stance for what's right. and can we talk about how messed up our system is when agents are killing innocent citizens? 
the fact that ppl r organizing to protect their neighbors shows how strong a community can be. i'm glad students are speaking out too, young voices matter 
. As someone who's been on the platform for years, I gotta say that this is some of the most important work we've ever done 
I'm still trying to get my head around this mass deportation campaign by the Trump admin 
. How can we trust their numbers on immigrants, when we're seeing protests like this in major cities? "No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA" chants don't lie, people are fed up 
. The fact that students like John Eddy and Abdou Seye skipped school to join the protest is crazy 
these protests are not just about stopping mass deportations, they're about protecting communities that feel targeted and traumatized by the government's actions 
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There are reports of a protester's mom being stuck behind city hall for 2 whole days... that doesn't sound right to me! 
The protesters claim it was an "aggressive" tactic, but I need more info on that. Also, how many people were arrested during the protest? 
. I'm actually kinda proud of John Eddy and Abdou Seye for taking a stand and missing school to protest - that takes serious guts 
It's crazy how things have escalated, even if it is for good reason - you gotta stand up against such brutal policies 
. We need to stand up against this stuff, but at the same time, I wish we could just fast forward to a better tomorrow... you know? 