Several hundred New Foundations Charter High School students gathered last week outside Holmesburg Recreation Center to protest activities by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Feb. 17 walkout lasted about an hour, and students were not marked late or absent. The 15th Police District was on hand in case of trouble.
Students waved flags of Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
They chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, deportation’s got to go,” and, “F— ICE.”
They held signs that read, “Ice belongs in drinks,” “Iceholes,” “No human is illegal” and one that gave the middle finger to ICE.
One sign quoted Bad Bunny, who said at the Grammy Awards, “We’re not savages. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
The students continued the protest by walking onto the grass mound at the PECO Energy property at Torresdale Avenue and Rhawn Street before peacefully proceeding back to school.
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Meanwhile, an ICE Out Community Training took place on Feb. 11 at Byberry Friends Meeting House.
About 75 people attended, and received literature on immigration resources and a workplace protection plan, along with a red card to distribute to immigrants with wording that tells ICE they do not want to talk or provide documents and will not let agents into their houses unless they have a signed judicial warrant that is slid under the door.
Participants held a moment of silence for Minnesotans Renee Good and Alex Pretti and others who’ve died during ICE activity.
Organizers had members of the crowd recite, “Don’t speak, don’t show, don’t sign, don’t open,” encouraging them to pass on those tips to immigrants.
Organizers also explained the 5 Ds in case of an ICE “abduction” – Document, Disseminate, Direct, Delay, Disrupt.
Then there was an explanation of the acronym SALUTE – Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Time, Equipment – for documenting and sharing ICE activity.
Lawyer Justin Mixon explained the difference between a judicial warrant (signed by a judge) and an administrative warrant (signed by ICE).
Among those in attendance were state Rep. Joe Hohenstein (D-177th dist.) and Rob Gurtcheff, a Democrat challenging state Rep. Martina White (R-170th dist.). ••
