GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) â Kent County commissioners suspended their meeting Thursday morning because of protesters who said they opposed the countyâs contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE.
Dozens of protesters marched through downtown Grand Rapids chanting âICE out of Kent Countyâ and carrying signs with messages including âabolish ICE nowâ and âICE not welcome here.â
Police could be seen monitoring the protest and blocking off roads as demonstrators traveled downtown.
Movimiento Cosecha GR and GR Rapids Response to ICE said they organized the demonstration to demand an end to the countyâs contract with ICE.
The groups first gathered at Calder Plaza to speak out about the treatment of immigrant families and their children by ICE and U.S. border patrol agents. From there, protesters traveled to the site of the county commission meeting to voice their opposition to the alleged ICE contract.