ICE Appreciation Event Draws Local and Online Attention

The New England Conservative Coalition gathered on Saturday, January 17th, near the Burlington ICE field office to support immigration enforcement officers. While ICE appreciation standouts have been happening since October, this was the largest turnout with multiple groups in attendance. Immigration has been a national conversation recently after the exposure of aliens committing extensive fraud in Minnesota, as well as the fatal shooting of Renee Good during an altercation with an ICE official.

 The event blew up on social media before and after the standout, with clips across X and posts in local Reddit forums going viral. The calls for attendance gathered a large crowd who wished to show their support for ICE, border enforcement, and deportation of illegal aliens. However, the online wildfire also saw many personal insults and even threats being launched at Coalition members.  Despite online and in-person intimidation and the snowfall, the Coalition stood strong.                                                                                                                                          

Reporters Sarah Howard and Nathan Remillard were present to interview anti-ICE protestors. Some of these conversations ended bitterly with counter-protestors accusing coalition members of ignorance or refusing to engage in good faith. Ironically, these interactions came in front of signs reading ‘everyone is welcome here.’ In one confusing display, a group of protesters against immigration restrictions blocked the coalition with walls of large protest signs, causing journalist Sarah Howard to joke about their sudden affection for walls.

The Coalition was also targeted by a local troll who tried to join their stand with his inflammatory signs. In hopes of tarnishing the reputations of the pro-ICE crowds he parked himself near the group to make provocative statements. However, the attendees immediately and repeatedly called him out and told him to stay away, disowning his rhetoric. The trouble-maker was eventually ordered by police to separate himself from the Coalition due to disturbing the peace.

Despite the incidents, the Coalition stayed positive as they braved the cold and played ‘Ice, Ice baby.” Not every interaction with protestors was a hostile one, and reporter Sarah Howard says she is building relationships with organizers on the other side who respect her views and hope to someday find themselves on the same side.

This is part of a growing pattern of protesters who have asked Sarah for her opinions, in some cases even changing their minds over what they’ve been told about Trump and politics. Her presence and that of the Coalition and pro-ICE groups has been influential for protestors and inspired some of them to do their own research about current events in a world of so much media misinformation. This is in keeping with the Coalition’s mission to inspire virtue and accountability across New England. Saturday was just another step towards that goal.

Next Steps:

Support Ice by joining future appreciation standouts:

Every Wednesday and Saturday 11-1 at 1000 District AVE, Burlington, MA

Contact the New England Conservative Coalition if you would like to be involved in further action. newenglandconservativecoa@gmail.com  (508) 379-3474