DANVILLE — Protests are planned nationwide to take place this weekend following the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Indivisibles Vermilion County is hosting its own candlelight vigil, ‘ICE Out For Good’ rally, Saturday evening.
The rally will start at 4:30 p.m. on the corner of Main and Vermilion streets, on the sidewalk corner, across from the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse.
A media release from the group said, “A broad coalition of groups across the country is calling for a coordinated Ice Out For Good Weekend of Action on Saturday, January 10th and Sunday, January 11th to demand accountability, honor the life lost, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions.”
Dee Ann Ryan, the co-leader of Indivisibles Vermilion County, said this is not the group’s first rally.
“Our rallies have been very safe,” Ryan said. The group held a ‘No Kings’ rally last summer.
And she adds the group is not politically party-oriented.
“It’s a non-partisan advocacy group where people can feel free to find like-mindedness and express feelings safely,” Ryan said about the Indivisibles Vermilion County group.
Amy Buttram, chair of the Vermilion County Democrats said she hopes to be present at the rally.
“I know ‘Indvisiables’ as a whole was really pushing to having more of a candlelight vigil to show strength in numbers against the the damages that ICE is doing to communities,” Buttram said.
Organizers encourage people to bring candles, flashlights, lanterns, and signs. The event page states that all are welcome to attend, and it promises to be a peaceful gathering.
“All are welcome — new volunteers, longtime activists, families, and community members who are just now getting engaged,” Ryan said. “Together, we can shine a light on injustice, build solidarity, and make it clear that our community rejects cruelty, impunity, and dangerous extremism in all forms.”
Ryan added that the group plans to hold more rallies, with the next focus being on childcare cuts.
“We’re planning a rally about the childcare cuts Trump is doing,” Ryan said. “We want to show solidarity for all childcare workers.”