Calls for change echo in Duluth as residents push back on ICE presence

Описание: The rotunda at Duluth City Hall was filled to the brim for much of the day on Friday, for the sit-in organized to be part of ICE Out of Minnesota.

Hundreds of people packed in, coming and going during the presentations and speeches. Lawmakers and other elected leaders took turns sharing what they feel needs to change.

Lily Rich and her roommate Cecelia Heer graduated from UMD. They wanted to show support for co-workers they said are being impacted by ICE.

Asks from the Duluth Human Rights Commission included not allowing ICE to detain people in county jails and banning ICE from entering city offices.

Kevin Erickson said he’s been writing and emailing and calling anyone he can think of. “I don’t feel that my kids are safe going to school. I don’t feel that people in my community are safe.”

Local companies provided snacks and food.

Mayor Roger Reinert shared that there has been minimal ICE activity in Duluth.

“Number one, Duluth continues to be a welcoming city. We value diversity. We fundamentally believe it makes us a stronger, a more vibrant, and frankly, more interesting community. And number two, local government’s role is not to be involved with federal immigration law enforcement. No city of Duluth employee, regardless of uniform or not uniform, participates in federal immigration law enforcement. And that includes property facilities and our buildings.”

He said that the city cannot tell the federal government what they can and cannot do.

Reinert is also concerned about the amount of misinformation being shared on social media.