Demonstrators are upset with Home Depot allowing ICE to detain. detain day laborers in their parking lots. Photo by Leah Burdick
15 demonstrators stood on the sidewalk of Seminole Boulevard and Ulmerton Road protesting Home Depot’s supporting ICE. They have been here every Saturday during the month of December.
During the demonstration, they were holding signs that said “De-ICE Home Depot” and “Keep ICE out.”
Terry Lombardo is a member of Indivisible North Pinellas.
“ICE as we know hasn’t congregated at this Home Depot. It’s more about Home Depot in general. Home Depot got to step up,” Lombardo said.
She said they sent letters to management expressing concerns about ICE using their parking lots to arrest immigrants.
“Last week after we got here, we carried some letters to management asking them to hand it up the ladder to Home Depot. They said theycouldnt, but they gave us a media contact. Our letters were expressing the fact that they need to stand up to ICE and they cannot use their parking lots to target vulnerable people,” Lombardo said.
Demonstrator Janine Brown said the corporation is not helping the community by doing this.
“Home Depot has allowed ICEE to come on their private property and gather up , detain some of the day laborers that depend on the Home Depot location and other locations like Home Depot to get connected to contractors and other people that will hire them for the day and pay them, so they can support their family,” Brown said.
She said these actions counter all the good they have done for the community.
“I used to live in Atlanta, and I know Home Depot has done a lot of really good things, but in my opinion this counters what they have done. I really wish they would just say ICE stay away,” Brown said.
During the peaceful demonstration, some drivers and pedestrians were upset by the group’s message, including Largo resident Don Cobin.
“Maybe in some places they had warrants for people and they found them at Home Depot. But now they’re saying they’re not just arresting people — they’re kidnapping them and making them disappear. Look at previous administrations. They deported just as many people without due process. They’re just out here trying to hurt Home Depot’s business,” Cobin said.
He too has been at these demonstrations on Saturday to try and counter the anti-ICE demonstrators. He said Home Depot has nothing to do with ICE and they should not be protesting the company for it.
The demonstration upset some drivers, who yelled out their windows, but overall it remained peaceful, with many drivers honking in support as they drove by.