An estimated 2,000 people attended a South Elgin rally Sunday to protest ICE actions in the wake of the second fatal shooting of an American citizen at a protest event in Minneapolis.
Organized less than 24 hours after the death of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti, the Fox Valley-based group We Can Lead Change held the event on Randall Road, east of the Silver Glen Crossing Mall — the same place where they held a similar event two weeks ago following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7.
And similar events were orchestrated all over the country, including one in downtown Chicago that drew thousands of angry opponents of ICE actions in Minnesota and elsewhere.
A headcount done by officials from the We Can Lead Change showed the rally drew far more than the initial 200 who were there at the start.
“We had 2,000 people — it was the most amazing number is so short a time we’ve ever seen,” Miki Powell, a member the steering committee for We Can Lead Change, said after the rally. “There were also more people driving by honking their horns with signs in their cars than we’ve seen in a while.”
The group began putting the event together Saturday and credited the networking done with other local groups, an alert system and a newsletter for getting the word out “and (letting interested people) know what’s happening in a heartbeat.”
Facebook response was so strong, she said, that “I put out a call for marshals because we have to have security for our people.”
“In less than 12 hours, I had 18 marshals sign up,” Powell said. “As far the weather, it’s a case of the cold weather be damned. Enough is enough and we are at the point where we are living privileged lives whereas the people being attacked do not have the same rights. People are angry and we’re going to be out there making noise for Minneapolis.”
Among those who attended were U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, R-Schaumburg, who’s running for the U.S. Senate; U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, and Dan Tully, a Democrat running for Krishnamoorthi’s 8th District Congessional seat.
St. Charles resident Joy Duerr said she “was very discouraged that (the death of citizens) keeps happening.”
“This is not the country I thought I lived in,” she said. “Despite just having been here already this month, I don’t feel there is any protest weariness settling in. If anything, people are getting more energized. They thought that it would just quit and it’s getting worse and our politicians are not doing anything. In terms of being here today, it’s cold, but you manage the elements or you don’t have a country.”
Wilma Van Arragon, of Batavia, said she “has attended nearly all of (anti-ICE rallies in the area).”
“We’re all so discouraged that we’re here again already and have to do this after just being here a few weeks ago. It’s heartbreaking that we need to do this,” she said. “I think regardless of the turnout it’s sending a message to our leaders, to our elected officials, and I think it’s also sending a message to our vulnerable neighbors that we stand with them.”
That said, Scott Powell, Miki’s husband, said it was heartening to see such a large number of people turn out.
“There’s a great spirit and it’s good to see so many other people that are caring about our country this way,” he said. “This is a crazy group that is in charge right now and we must respond. We cannot sit back, we can not let authoritarianism take over this country and run amok.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
