St. Pete faith leaders call for SPPD to pull out of ICE agreement [PHOTOS]

Credit: Dave Decker

At a vigil for the Minneapolis woman killed by ICE, St. Petersburg faith leaders called on St. Petersburg Police to pull out of their agreement to work with the federal immigration agency.

Rev. Ben Atherton-Zeman hosted the vigil for Renee Nicole Good and call for action outside St. Pete Police Department’s downtown headquarters.

Pastor and activist Andy Oliver reiterated statements from an open letter he posted on social media that day, once again demanding SPPD drop the agreement. He also called on City Council to pass a resolution asking SPPD Chief Anthony Holloway to terminate the agreement.

Oliver and Atherton-Zeman were arrested together last summer when they blocked FDOT from paving over the “Black History Matters” street mural outside the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.

St. Petersburg Police joined the 287(g) agreement last February. Florida Sheriff’s departments are mandated by state law to join the agreement, but there is no requirement for municipalities.

Florida is the only state to have all of its (67) counties partner with ICE.

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway issued a statement to media outlets in response to last Friday’s vigil, reiterating previous statements that the department is not part of ICE and does not receive funding to support ICE operations.

“As of today, none of our officers has received training under the 287(g) program; therefore, none has been deputized,” Holloway added.

Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay