By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Despite frigid temperatures Saturday, more than 100 protestors waved signs and chanted outside Lincoln Park as part of national ICE Out demonstrations.
The demonstrators were remembering the recent deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by Homeland Security agents in Minneapolis.
The demonstration was hosted by Voice of the People and the Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective.
The demonstration was held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., although some left after the first hour due to the extremely cold temperatures, barely out of single digits.
Dave Nealy of Olean, a counter-protester who carries an American flag and a bullhorn, was joined by three others on the other side of East State Street from the protesters.
At noon, demonstration organizers reported 117 protesters. Many passing motorists honked in support of the protesters and others gave a thumbs up sign.
“When we see laws being broken by our own government, I feel it is our constitutional duty to show up and peacefully and legally let everyone know how we feel and what we need to do to make sure we always have those rights,” said Beverly Jones of Olean.
Sue Ashby of Allegany, said she was at the protest because “I like the world as it is. I like living in a country where we have rights. We are the government.”
Rob Evans of Allegany acknowledged the cold, but that it was important to show up because of the way things are going in Minneapolis.
“Agents murdered that man (Pretti) in cold blood,” Evans said. “What they are doing is not American.”
The sound of music and chants filled the air: “No ICE in our Streets. No Justice. No Peace,” one woman shouted through a bullhorn.
“No Trump. No KKK. No ICE in the USA,” chanted Miranda Morgan loudly in her bullhorn. “I try to focus on the main goal, ICE Out. I believe in class solidarity and the human rights of all people.”
Local protests against President Trump and his policies have been going on for 11 months.
