Protesters at Malcolm X Elementary on Friday. Credit: Lila Wilkinson
Berkeley teachers, staff and supporters gathered outside Malcolm X Elementary Friday afternoon in a solidarity protest with people in Minneapolis, urging more funding for public schools instead of immigration enforcement. Another protest was held at Willard Middle, and a third, in the Southside neighborhood, took aim at a hotel owned by Hilton, which has provided lodging for ICE agents in Minnesota.
Protesters and federal officers have been clashing for weeks in Minneapolis, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross’ fatal shooting of unarmed Renee Good on Jan. 7 caused tensions to explode. On Thursday, the federal Justice Department arrested three protesters who disrupted a St. Paul church service led by a pastor who works for ICE.
The demonstrations in Berkeley were part of a national day of action against aggressive tactics by ICE.
A few dozen teachers and staff members marched out to Ashby and Ellis streets in the afternoon, carrying signs and pom-poms. Parents and children joined the demonstration, with Malcolm X Elementary students joining in chanting, “ICE out!” from behind the chain-link fence.
The Berkeley teachers union and other educators in California have also been negotiating for contracts with higher pay and benefits in the statewide “We Can’t Wait” campaign.
The protest at Malcolm X Elementary. Credit: Vanessa Arredondo/Berkeleyside
“It’s important that we stand up when there’s injustice in the world, and right now, the unfathomable is happening,” Washington Elementary School teacher John DeSerio told Berkeleyside. “The amount of money that we’re spending on ICE is unthinkable, especially when we’re underfunding our schools.”
“I think the whole country is afraid right now, and we want to come out to show solidarity to keep coming out defending the schools, the kids, the community, and everyone that doesn’t deserve to be treated that way,” Sara Carver, a kindergarten teacher at Malcolm X and BFT treasurer, said.
Molly Avirett, a parent of two Malcolm X Elementary students, said she joined the protest with her children because “the school has worked from a lot of different angles to support us and our kids.”
She said the demonstration is more than about salaries. “It’s about history, equity and the role education has in the whole Berkeley community,” she said. “I think that’s evident by the ages of the people who are out here.”
The protest at Malcolm X Elementary. Credit: Lila Wilkinson
Hundreds were expected to gather at the Graduate by Hilton hotel in the Southside neighborhood Friday afternoon for a protest organized by Showing Up for Racial Justice, Indivisible and other groups.
Karen Hughes, a lead organizer, said protesters would request the hotel’s management sign a pledge not to rent rooms to ICE agents.
“This action is No. 1, a way to show solidarity and support for Minnesota and Minneapolis and what our brothers and sisters are experiencing,” she said.
Protesters outside the Graduate by Hilton hotel Friday afternoon. Credit: Karen Hughes
At least one Hilton franchisee in Minnesota canceled reservations for federal immigration officers after frequent protests — only to reverse course after the Department of Homeland Security accused it of impeding law enforcement. Hilton later dropped the hotel from its system.
“Hilton Hotels has chosen to be complicit in the Trump regime’s invasions of our cities,” reads a message shared by organizers. “After ICE agents spend their days terrorizing our communities and ripping families and schools apart, Hilton is providing the agents with a warm bed and a quiet respite.”
Hilton did not respond to a request for comment. A manager at the Graduate, who asked not to be named since “no one on property is at liberty to speak for the brand,” said the property didn’t have a specific policy on housing ICE agents and they didn’t believe any had stayed there in the past year.
Natalie Orenstein and the Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
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