Grace’s Political Activism Club Protested Through the Freezing Cold

Pictured: A group of high school students organized a protest against ICE. Media provided by George S. ‘27

Despite the freezing cold, around 50 people attended the Political Activism Club’s (PAC) protest against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 8th. The protest was held in response to the recent shootings by ICE officers of Alex Pretti, Reene Good, and many other victims from the terrifying acts in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and violence all over the country against both citizens and legal immigrants.

Media provided by India B. ’27

PAC used community meetings, emails, and word of mouth to spread details of the protest both within and outside the community. There were lunchtime sessions to make protest signs, and attendees were very creative with them. One of my favorites included a photo of Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer and 2026 Super Bowl Performer, who won his most recent Grammy last week and declared “ICE out” in his speech. Another one of my favorites included simple signs such as “Abolish ICE,” or “Immigrants are people too.”

The protest was scheduled for Sunday, February 8th, but unfortunately, it was graced with single-digit temperatures. Nevertheless, community members and non-community members showed up. The group met at Columbus Park in FiDi at 11 A.M., the group growing by the minute. Hand warmers were being passed out by club leader, Micah W. ‘26, who was joyous about the turnout, even during the unbelievably cold weather. We walked from Columbus Park, left on Baxter Street, up Hogan Street, and finally made a right onto Worth, where we marched to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement NYC headquarters on Federal Plaza. During our 4-minute walk, we saw many passers-by; some honked their car horns and cheered for our group, while others walked by, seemingly unfazed.

When the group arrived at the headquarters, we stayed stationary in the back of the building, chanting famous protest chants, such as “this is what democracy looks like.” After staying in the same spot for a while, we marched around the building, stopping in front of the ICE officer entrance. There were security guards inside the building, observing the protest. Some of the security guards were even dancing along with us.

Even though the freezing temperatures would have kept the energy down, many chants over the megaphone, supplied by Micah, kept us going. We sang “This Land Is Your Land,” by folk singer Woody Guthrie, in 1940.

Media Provided by India B. ’27

After these joyful chants, we ended the protest by walking around the building in the opposite direction, stopping where we started. Micah said a few final words, reflecting on the amazing turnout from the Grace community. Although there might have been a bigger turnout if the weather were slightly warmer, the people who showed up to protest the violence around the U.S. by government employees means so much to everyone who has been affected.

India B. ‘27, the author, is a staff writer for The Grace Gazette.