Fuck ICE.

Last weekend I was on my way to teach an art class. 

I passed the local Wendy’s and saw people with signs out front. As I got closer, one of the signs very clearly said “NO ICE”.

I honked in support, and then I turned around. 

I parked at the Wendy’s and got out. I told one of the sign holders I’m a writer, and a local, and wondered if they might talk to me. I asked why they were there, even though it seemed clear, and how they organized. 

They were students. Kids. Protesting in front of Wendy’s to protect the people in their community. 

Their parents were there to support them, some of them even school board members, but the students were the ones who decided to do something.

And they had been out there the day before, too - from 2 to 7 p.m., making sure their voices are heard. They are doing what they can, where they’re at, with what they have in defiance of what is happening in our country - and now, our own mountain town. 

In the last three weeks, ICE has conducted multiple raids in the county according to the Summit Daily. Since there is no centralized government reporting system, this number is based on community reports. 

The University of California Berkeley School of Law is attempting to collect and compile ICE arrests using data it forced the agency to release, which it used to make the Deportation Data Project, but it’s still imperfect. 

By design, ICE and the administration want confusion. Knowledge strengthens people and chaos weakens people. Students are not showing up to classes. Restaurants have closed. Construction sites are idle. People are afraid. 

It shouldn’t be like this. 

While talking to one of the parents, they said they fear they have to send their kids to school with their birth certificates. Fear they have to be careful about how vocal or visible they are in such a small community like ours. “I thought me and my family were safe here” they said.

It shouldn't be like this. 

When I asked what the response from our small mountain community has been, the same parent said some people driving by have been nasty. They quickly went on to say, though, that “for every one who flips off the kids, there’s 10, 15 who offer support, waving and honking.”

That’s not to say those awful people are actually locals. This community runs off tourism and there’s always a lot of out of towners here.

And just in the few minutes I was there, more than one car horn showed support. I like to think of those people being my neighbors. One car I saw actually was. 

Community really is everything. If the internet were to disappear tomorrow, what would be left? 

Community. 

People.

Voices.

Actions.

Protesting is powerful. Even if you disagree with it, you’re still talking about it. 

Protesting can shift public opinion by forcing issues into the public eye. It challenges immorality and empowers citizens. 

Protesting also sends a clear message to the government - one which they can listen to and create positive change from for the people they have pledged to serve. Or they can not listen and the people will change it for them. 

People will always take care of people, and the kids protesting outside Wendy’s are the future of this country. 

It shouldn’t be like this. But it is. And to that I say…

Fuck ICE.