400 Attend Anti-ICE Rally in Downtown Elmhurst: “This is a regime that should not be tolerated by anyone”

Protesters line up in front of Elmhurst City Hall during an anti-ICE on Jan. 31. Approximately 400 attendees arrived in the near-freezing weather. (Sarah Matzkin)

Approximately 400 residents of Elmhurst and surrounding communities gathered at Elmhurst City Hall to protest the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents on Jan. 31. The protest was part of a national movement.

As the event progressed, primarily taking place from 1-3:30 p.m., cars drove by and honked or had signs and flags affixed to vehicles. While many protests across the nation took place on Friday, in addition to a push for a general strike and economic blackout, Elmhurst organizers believed Saturday would bring a larger turnout.

An article from Time Magazine said that the general strike comes from a “decentralized movement across multiple large cities, from Minneapolis to Cleveland to New York City. Organizers are asking people to abstain from work, school, and commerce to protest immigration enforcement and the recent shootings.”

Maria Balice, a board member of Progressives for Change, the organizers of the Elmhurst event, says that she and others have come to City Hall to protest every Saturday since last February.

“We want a place for patriots to come and gather in the community to protest this reckless administration,” Balice said.

Balice says she became involved with Progressives for Change in 2016, after Donald Trump was elected, because “it just became clear that his values were not American values.”

She has a personal connection to the protest as the daughter of immigrant parents, making her a first-generation American. Balice found it important to protest for ICE agents to stay out of American cities, and to cease militarizing cities.

“They need to get the ICE agents out, and they need to come to an agreement on a compassionate, effective immigration policy in this country,” said Balice. “I am all for immigration control and having a secure border, but this is not the way to do it.”

Renee Adley, who handed out handmade buttons and cards, began involving herself in local activism after she retired.

She said she wants to be on the right side of history, as well as the right side of the Constitution. She believes citizens can advocate for fair policies and the ending of cruelty in the country.

“This is a regime that should not be tolerated by anyone, and people need to get a backbone and stand up to tyranny,” said Adley.

Adley, among others at the protest, believed this was their contribution to change. Doing zero was not an option.

Grace Clear, who has been organizing Elmhurst’s Saturday protests, stated that the next planned large protest will be in March. She also stated that the protest on Saturday was the largest turnout so far.

A flag waves upside down during an anti-ICE protest in downtown Elmhurst on Jan. 31. (Sarah Matzkin)