Protesters Fill Ross’s Landing and speak out against ICE policies
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – As ICE protests continue, a group of community members gathered at Ross’s Landing to voice their opposition to the organization and the Trump administration.
One protester held a microphone and chanted up and down the street, “The people united will never be divided.”
As the demonstration continued, both sides of the street at Ross’s Landing were filled with protesters voicing their opposition to ICE.
Protester Allison Gorman said that while she supports the deportation of violent offenders, she is opposed to what some call overreach.
Gorman stated, “There’s a constitutional process that’s supposed to be followed, and that is not being followed, so we don’t want our sheriff handing people over to a federal agency that has repeatedly violated court orders, violated people’s human rights, and, again, violated the Constitution.”
When asked about Laken Riley’s death, protester Kat Willard responded, “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
Willard elaborated, “I don’t think that anyone is illegal on stolen land, and I think that they don’t even have a warrant to arrest these people and take these people, and they don’t know them, and they’ll go into construction sites, especially here.”
Protester Kathy Royal said she simply wants her voice to be heard.
“America is what you make it. It’s always been a land of opportunity, and everybody needs a chance,” Royal said. “And I am here because I have no other way to make my voice heard. And there are people who have less ways than I do, so I’m here for me, and I’m here for them.”
As demonstrations continue, protesters say they plan to keep speaking out, hoping their concerns are acknowledged and addressed.
