Protestors outside of Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park // Chris Young, WMNF News, 1/13/26
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is hosting a recruitment event at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
People gathered outside the hotel to protest ICE and immigration enforcement.
Dozens of people gathered outside the hotel, waving signs and chanting messages that denounced ICE.
The protests come on the heels of the ICE killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Demonstrator Jane Jackson says she’s concerned about her country.
“We have to do something. I can’t sit and watch television and listen to the radio. I have to show my displeasure,” Jackson told WMNF.
Jennie Pawlowsky says she was inspired to come out after she read about the treatment of undocumented immigrants in detention centers.
“I just can’t understand how any political administration, no matter what party you’re from, would want to inflict cruelty on other human beings. So, that’s why I’m here.” Pawlowsky told WMNF.
At a noon press conference, law enforcement officials stated that there had been no arrests at the protest.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed concerns about all sheriffs’ offices in the state signing agreements to participate in ICE’s 287(g) agreement, allowing deputies powers to perform certain immigration enforcement actions.
“We’re not stopping people and asking for their papers. So don’t make it that because that ain’t what’s happening in Pinellas County. And so, tell me one time that a local law enforcement officer has engaged in that activity. It hasn’t happened, so everybody just chill on that,” Gualtieri said.
Protests are set to continue on Wednesday from 9 am to 2pm, according to a Facebook post from group Voices of Florida.