My walk through campus was quiet on Jan. 30 as the call for a national strike against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations was answered. As the passing period began, students started to trickle out of their classes, but it was not the usual flood of people.
It was not until 2 p.m. that a surge of students began sloshing through roughly plowed sidewalks and roads to the Waterman building. Students held each other to stay warm while carrying signs made of old beer and pizza boxes with one main message — “ICE OUT.”
As the crowd outside the Waterman building grew more and more, so did my hope for the impact this national strike was going to have. It was cold, but that did not stop hundreds of people from demanding a change. Multiple people gave speeches, including a Somali poem speaking about representation and belonging.
We started to march downtown around 3 p.m. Once we made it to Burlington City Hall, people continued chanting and singing. The protest was peaceful and impactful. This photo essay documents power being brought back to the people and change being brought forth despite icy grounds and negative temperatures.
