A group of demonstrators gathered in downtown Montreal on Sunday to voice their opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minneapolis and other American cities. The protesters marched from the U.S. consulate to Dorchester Square, standing in solidarity with Minneapolis protestors after two American citizens were recently killed by federal agents.
Michael Lipset, a Montreal resident and the lead organizer of the protest, expressed a strong message against fascism and called for the abolishment of ICE, emphasizing the need to hold accountable the officials responsible for the deaths. Lipset, originally from Minnesota, took it upon himself to organize the protest, feeling compelled to take action despite not being in the Twin Cities.
Joining the demonstration were Americans living in Montreal, along with immigrant rights groups like Indivisible Québec, Democrats at McGill, and the Immigrant Workers Centre, all condemning the Trump administration’s policies. Dave Hamelin-Shuilenburg of Indivisible Québec criticized the government’s actions, likening them to crimes against humanity and emphasizing the urgent need to denounce such practices.
Jacob Wesoky, president of Democrats at McGill, highlighted the importance of American students in Canada speaking out against the chaos in their home country and advocating for an end to Canadian support for ICE’s abuses.
The weekend of protests across North America also saw demonstrations in Vancouver, where protesters demanded that a tech company sever ties with ICE, and nationwide strikes against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. These actions were fueled by the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both killed in encounters with ICE agents, sparking widespread outrage and scrutiny of the administration’s tactics.
