Ithaca community members gathered at Rally for Hope and Justice on Feb. 7 at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on The Commons.
On Jan. 30, Jesus Romero-Hernandez was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Tompkins County Department of Social Services. Community members came together to promote unity and protest against ICE’s presence in Ithaca. There were three demonstrations, two taking place on The Commons and one in City Hall.
The first protest took place Feb. 2 on The Commons, and was followed by a forum at First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca. The crowd chanted, played instruments and sang songs to protest ICE’s presence in Ithaca. (Marissa Moschella/The Ithacan)Rev. Kirianne Weaver, senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, led the group in song and chant. She encouraged protestors to shout the phrases that were written on their signs and chanted “No justice, no peace.” (Marissa Moschella/The Ithacan)Protestors held up signs with phrases like “Melt the ice” and “No human being is illegal.” There were about 100 people on The Commons. (Marissa Moschella/The Ithacan)Ithaca community members attended the Feb. 5 Common Council meeting at Ithaca City Hall. People held signs and speakers pressured council members to reaffirm Ithaca’s sanctuary status for immigrants, gender-affirming health care and reproductive health care. The council unanimously voted to reaffirm the city’s sanctuary status. (Lucia Iandolo/The Ithacan)Another rally took place Feb. 7 at the Bernie Milton Pavillion on The Commons. Assemblymember Anna Kelles spoke alongside members of Ithaca’s local government, including Mayor Robert Cantelmo. (Lucia Iandolo/The Ithacan)Ayden Githinji, a junior at the New Roots Charter School, spoke about respecting and learning from Indigenous communities. Githinji emphasized the importance of a community that “equally benefits, respects and represents us all.” (Lucia Iandolo/The Ithacan)The Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers sang “We Shall Overcome” by Joan Baez at the end of the rally. Ithaca College junior Trevor Griffiths sang and played guitar along with the group. (Lucia Iandolo/The Ithacan)
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