Tucson Joins Nationwide Strike Against ICE, Protests in Downtown

Protests Against ICE Sweep Through Tucson as Part of Nationwide Strike

In a powerful display of resistance, thousands marched through downtown Tucson on Friday, joining a national strike against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The movement gained momentum with participation from local businesses and schools, which closed their doors in solidarity with the cause.

The nationwide strike was organized in response to the recent fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, sparking outrage and calls for change. Protesters across the country adopted the slogan “no work, no school, no shopping” to voice their opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

In Tucson, the University of Arizona became a focal point with hundreds of students gathering to protest. Participants held signs demanding justice for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both victims of deadly encounters with immigration enforcement agents.

One student organizer captured the sentiment of the crowd, stating, “If they don’t care about people, we need to hit them where it hurts, and that’s money, so we are striking today. Because the most powerful thing that we as workers and students can do is withhold our labor.”

The protest saw significant involvement from educators, with approximately 1,000 teachers from the Tucson Unified School District joining the march. Tiffany Kassel, an educator, emphasized the need to protect their students and stand up for community rights: “We want to make sure our kids are safe. By doing that, we also have to stand up for our community. And make sure that all of our children, no matter where they come from. So that’s what teachers were striving for today.”

Throughout the day, Kassel coordinated with school staff to cover for those on strike, later joining the protest herself. She highlighted the fears faced by students in the current climate, noting, “We all think about our safety every day and the safety of our kids in the climate and environment we live in, even more so in this new, frankly horrifying, climate where children can be snatched from their classrooms and employees and others can be targeted as well.”

Joshua Kassel, Tiffany’s husband, joined the march to support the cause, expressing his concerns about the government’s actions: “We have a federal government that is out of control and we as people need to push back and let them know that this is not OK. And especially for folks who are like me, middle aged, white, it’s very important to make sure that our demographic get our faces out there,” he commented.

Despite disruptions, at least 21 schools in the Tucson area managed to keep their campuses open, providing essential services like transportation and meals for students.