Bellingham rally, vigil push back against federal immigration enforcement tactics
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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Whatcom County residents continued to protest the killing of civilians by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Monday, with a rally in downtown Bellingham and a vigil at Western Washington University.
About 50 people held signs and chanted late Monday outside the Federal Building at Magnolia Street and Cornwall Avenue downtown. Meanwhile, about 100 students and other community members gathered somberly by candlelight at Western’s Red Square.
Participants at the downtown protest included nurses who came to mourn Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse who was shot in the back while being restrained by ICE agents. His killing was shown in widely distributed phone videos that have been verified by major media organizations.
“I’m here to support the fact that Alex was murdered by ICE. And that we won’t stand for ICE,” said Colleen Johnson of Bellingham.
At the vigil, Pretti’s image was framed alongside an image of Renee Good, another Minneapolis resident who was killed by an ICE agent just weeks earlier. Framed images of dozens of other individuals impacted by ICE actions were also on display at the vigil. Their names were all read aloud by members of the student group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán, known as MEChA, which organized the vigil.
Many left flowers and artwork alongside the photos. Participants held signs, including some that read: “ICE out of Whatcom County,” and “Defend immigrant families.”
Vigil participant Mike Chomka told The Herald it was disheartening to see violence like this and that he hopes for de-escalation.
“This is going to happen more and more unless we get this under control,” Chomka said.
Vigil participant Karen Weed told The Herald she believed ICE’s actions were unpatriotic.
“Our fathers fought against fascism in the second World War. If they saw what was happening in our country today, they would be furious,” Weed said. “This is fascism. It’s racist. It’s nationalist. It’s against the people.”
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