JANESVILLE More than 100 people turned out during a snow and sleet storm Saturday to demonstrate in downtown Janesville, protesting recent federal immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis in which a woman was shot to death.
Demonstrators gather for an anti-ICE demonstration at the corner of Milton Avenue and Humes Road in Janesville Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025.
MADELINE WESTBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
The Town Hall Coalition, a Janesville-based advocacy group that has hosted a series of demonstrations this past year, staged the Ice Out For Good protest on Saturday at the heavily-travelled juncture of Milton Avenue and Humes Road on the citys northeast side.
It was part of Ice Out For Good protests that took place nationwide on Saturday.
Organizers said about 115 people turned out in Janesville.
The local groups Saturday morning protest is a weekly occurrence.
Members of Town Hall Coalition have gathered Saturday mornings for about eight months, organizers said, to call attention to important local and national issues. The usual protest crowd size is around 20 people, said Neil Deupree, a coalition member.
But after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman, Renee Good, in Minneapolis on Thursday, sparking nationwide demonstrations, organizers set the focus of this weeks Janesville protest on ICE activities.
Demonstrators gather for an anti-ICE demonstration at the corner of Milton Avenue and Humes Road in Janesville Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025.
MADELINE WESTBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Town Hall Coalition member Coral Swanson said many participants at Saturdays protest were looking for a way to have their voices heard after recent events.
What happened in Minneapolis is moving people to do something, to show their concern, Swanson said.
Organizers said they were pleased with the turnout.
Its so important that our voices be heard. Even if you dont agree with us, and youre driving by, just to see this amount of people in Janesville is really inspiring and awesome, coalition member Edie Baran said. Were standing here in the cold. Everybody here feels that this is important.
Im thrilled that everyone showed up and wed love to see more, Baran added.
Demonstrators gather for an anti-ICE demonstration at the corner of Milton Avenue and Humes Road in Janesville Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025.
MADELINE WESTBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
The protest in Janesville drew participants from Walworth County advocacy groups, Indivisible Rock County, the Raging Grannies from Madison and state Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit).
Im out because what happened in Minneapolis was absolutely horrific. We have armed federal agents in our streets of our communities shooting people. That is absolutely wrong, Spreitzer said. We need to be out here protesting against it. ICE needs to get out of our cities. And ICE needs to stop killing people.
Demonstrators gather for an anti-ICE demonstration at the corner of Milton Avenue and Humes Road in Janesville Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025.
MADELINE WESTBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
That was an absolute murder in cold blood. We need to stand up against that and say that that is absolutely wrong, Spreitzer continued. I dont want ICE in Minneapolis. I also dont want ICE here in Rock County.
Spreitzer said his aim is to protect everybody in our community.
I value diversity. And we live in a diverse community. And ultimately we know that ICE is going after some of the folks who are part of the fabric of our communities that I represent, that are my constituents, he said.
Demonstrators gather for an anti-ICE demonstration at the corner of Milton Avenue and Humes Road in Janesville Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025.
MADELINE WESTBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Spreitzer and several Town Hall Coalition members said its important for Janesville residents to be engaged and vocal about where their community, and the nation, are headed.
People should continue to reach out to their elected officials, especially at the federal level, Spreitzer said. There are elections in April. There are elections in November. In addition to protests like this, that is a direct chance for peoples voices to be heard.
Sign up for our Daily Update & Weekend Update email newsletters!
Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
