Anti-ICE Protesters March Through Penn State Campus

Penn State students and community members marched across the University Park campus Monday evening, chanting in opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and calling for “an end to admin cooperating with ICE.”

The latest local anti-ICE demonstration began around 7 p.m. on the Old Main lawn, where protesters gathered with signs and banners as speakers addressed the crowd. From there, demonstrators marched down Pollock Road, past the Pattee and Paterno libraries and through the HUB-Robeson Center, chanting along the way, before returning to Old Main.

Signs carried by demonstrators included messages reading “ICE + Klan go hand-in-hand,” “No one is illegal on imperialized land,” “F— ICE,” and “Shutdown Moshannon,” referring to the ICE detention facility in nearby Clearfield County.

Back outside Old Main for the final speeches, protesters held their banners facing the building. An organizer told the crowd to “hold the banners tight so that we can see the words, so that admin can see it.” The demonstration ended around 8:20 p.m.

Recent immigration enforcement in central Pennsylvania was a focus throughout the demonstration, with speakers referencing ICE activity involving workers in Centre County over the summer and, more recently, at a construction site in Montour County.

Speakers repeatedly cited the Sept. 2 immigration raid at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where advocates say 41 workers on an 11-story tower construction project were arrested as they left work for the day, as well as follow-up enforcements that result in additional arrests.

One Penn State student, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke on behalf of the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, one of the groups involved in organizing the protest. The student said the group’s anti-ICE patrols have brought members into contact with workers and families affected by immigration enforcement.

“Through that, we personally know many workers who have been directly terrorized by ICE,” the student said. “They’re tearing apart the families of people we know.”

Protesters also directed their criticism at Penn State, accusing the university of cooperating with ICE. The Penn State-owned State College Regional Airport, where Spotlight PA reported there has been a dramatic surge in flights chartered by ICE to move people between detention centers, came up repeatedly, both in speeches and in an interview with the SCDS student.

“They own the State College Airport, and reports have come out recently that the airport is being used by ICE, both by ICE agents and also to fly immigrants who are detained in and out,” the student said.

Speakers also criticized Penn State’s response to the possibility of federal immigration enforcement on campus.

“Well, if they won’t protect us, then we have to be the ones to protect us,” one speaker said, prompting the crowd to respond, “We protect us!”

The student said SCDS also participates in anti-ICE patrols through the Serve the People Brigade, which brings together students and other community members to watch for and respond to suspected immigration enforcement activity.

During the demonstration, an organizer said the group conducts more than 60 patrols each week around workplaces, residences and schools.

“The main reason why ICE is able to attack us as working students, as working people, is because we’re isolated from each other,” the student said. “We don’t have strong and stable organizations.”

In July, State College Borough Council unanimously approved an ordinance restricting borough involvement in civil immigration enforcement. As previously reported by StateCollege.com, the ordinance prohibits municipal employees from participating in or providing borough resources for civil immigration enforcement except where required by federal or state law, court order or judicial warrant. 

The SCDS student said the ordinance came after months of pressure from community members and protesters.

“For months, the people of State College had demanded the Borough Council pass that anti-ICE ordinance, and they didn’t listen except for when we protested and forced them to pass it,” the student said.

Many demonstrators wore face coverings throughout the protest, with organizers making masks available to participants.

Scott Crabtree, a fourth-year Penn State student majoring in community, environment and development, said he saw a flyer for the demonstration near the bus station and joined protesters as they were leaving Old Main.

“Even if this is a small action, the bigger the crowd is, the more likely people are to join,” Crabtree said. “I think a lot of people don’t join because they’re anxious or unfamiliar.”

“I wish it was bigger, but I’m not upset about it,” Crabtree said of the turnout. “I just wonder if we could get more groups to work with.”

Crabtree said immigration enforcement has also concerned him personally because he has friends in Florida who come from undocumented families.

“I can’t help but feel afraid that half their family is going to get gutted simply because they didn’t do their documents, even though they’ve been here for decades,” Crabtree said.

Speakers representing several student and community organizations addressed the crowd throughout the demonstration, including SCDS, United Socialists at Penn State and Students for a Democratic Society.

Speakers also tied their opposition to ICE to broader calls for worker organization and political change. Chants included “Students unite, organize and fight” and “One solution, revolution.”

Protesters also chanted in Spanish, with the crowd responding “¡Nada!” to “¿Qué tenemos?” and “¡Todo!” to “¿Qué queremos?” meaning, “What do we have? Nothing. What do we want? Everything.”

One speaker told the crowd that “an attack on one worker is an attack on all of us,” while urging students and community members to organize in response to immigration enforcement.

As the demonstration came to a close, organizers encouraged participants to continue their involvement through anti-ICE patrols, workplace defense teams, flyering and future protests.

Organizers also gave participants instructions for dispersing. One told the crowd not to speak with police or provide their names, saying the guidance was “out of a sense of safety for yourself.”

“I urge you, after coming out here today, stay in the fight,” an anonymous organizer said. “Sign up for a patrol. Talk to us about forming a workplace defense team. Join us for flyering. Come out to future protests. Stay in the fight.”

Organizers also advertised two upcoming events. A student community meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 20 and will focus on student organizing in response to recent immigration enforcement in central Pennsylvania. An anti-ICE community patrol training is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 27 and will introduce participants to the group’s patrol network and tactics organizers describe as “exposing and confronting ICE on-the-ground.” Participants are required to register in advance to receive the locations for the events.