Thousands rally in New York’s Union Square against ICE raids, support Minnesota protests

NEW YORK CITY, NY: Thousands of protesters gathered Friday in Manhattan’s Union Square to denounce recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and federal immigration enforcement actions, organizers said.

The event in Manhattan, called ‘Slave Patrol 2.0,’ is part of a nationwide wave of solidarity protests, inspired by Minneapolis' ongoing “economic blackout,” during which residents refuse to go to work or school and businesses temporarily close.

Protesters stage NYC walkouts against ICE raids 

Protesters marched through Union Square, shouting against ICE and federal immigration policies. They urged city and state lawmakers to stop collaborating with the agency and to defend immigrant communities.

At the rally, speakers drew parallels to earlier periods in U.S. history marked by racial policing, arguing that current enforcement threatens civil liberties and basic human rights. The Union Square march, which continued down to City Hall, was organized by The People’s Forum, the 50501 Movement, and the ANSWER Coalition.

“STAND WITH MINNEAPOLIS! ICE OUT FOR GOOD!” read some of the banners from The People’s Forum promoting the event on social media.

Speakers also urged lawmakers to pass the ‘New York for All Act,’ a bill that would prevent New York’s state and local agencies—including police and sheriffs—from collaborating with ICE, disclosing sensitive information, or diverting personnel or resources to support federal immigration enforcement.

Students join Union Square rally in anti-ICE protest

Although a citywide economic blackout wasn’t planned, a group of students under the banner of ‘Get Free NYC’ walked out of high school and college classes at 11:00 am to join the rally.

“For our protest and walkout, we said ‘ICE out,’ and also ‘no to slave patrol 2.0,’” JJ Briscoe, one of the founders of Get Free NYC, told the crowd of at least a thousand people gathered on the south side of the park.

Briscoe added: “They would kidnap people and send them to camps and force them to do unpaid labor. That is happening in our country right now in these detention camps.”

Several New York political hopefuls attended the protest. House Rep. Dan Goldman mingled with the crowd, as did former city comptroller Brad Lander. State assemblymen Micah Lasher and Alex Bores, both eyeing Jerry Nadler’s soon-to-be-open congressional seat, also showed support for the rally and its message.

Anti-ICE demonstrations spread across the US

A similar protest occurred Friday evening in downtown Portland, Maine, where hundreds gathered in Monument Square despite freezing temperatures.

Demonstrators marched through downtown Portland, chanting anti-ICE slogans and carrying signs reading “ICE Out of Maine.”

The events in New York, Minneapolis, and other cities across the country were triggered by viral images of ICE activities in Minnesota, inspiring nationwide outrage and solidarity actions.