Chants of "ICE out of Worcester now," erupted during the city council's public comment period this Tuesday, escalating into a full-blown protest that shut down the meeting. According to MassLive, a wave of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters entered Worcester City Council chambers, resulting in an adjourned meeting with none of the agenda items addressed.
Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, sharing the protesters' frustration, lamented on the disruption noting the stalled "daily operations." Petty stated, "Unfortunately, we were unable to do the people's business tonight," indicating over 40 agenda items went undiscussed and that citizens wishing to speak on critical matters were unable to do so, as reported by MassLive. The officials' statements reflect the heated atmosphere during the session, where protesters not only chanted but also held signs such as "Due process for all," and some targeting city officials with expletives.
The council meeting already had a late start due to an extended finance committee session, and only a few residents managed to speak before the protest escalated. The Telegram & Gazette describes Mayor Petty's attempt to restore order with the gavel but to no avail. Eventually, the meeting was moved to recess indefinitely for safety concerns, with Petty calling the protests "outrageous."
Councilors were seen escorted by officers as they left the chamber following the adjournment, while a heavy police presence formed a semicircle, lining up at the building's entrance, some after protesters had blocked their exit. Holding future council meetings remotely is now a consideration for Mayor Petty in an attempt to bypass similar situations, according to the Telegram & Gazette. This move follows a precedent set in mid-May when the council went virtual following threats in the wake of ICE activities on Eureka Street.
This burst of local activism was sparked by ICE's May 8 arrest of Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, a Brazilian mother of three, which was met with community pushback and protests. Further stirring the discontent, City Manager Eric D. Batista has clarified city policies regarding interactions with ICE, emphasizing that local law enforcement will not target individuals based on immigration status, as per his May 16 statement quoted by MassLive. Batista expressed the distress of witnessing a family being separated, yet acknowledging the limitations of municipal power in preventing federal detainment.
