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Labor Groups Organize Protests Against Deportation of Illegal Immigrants in Pittsburgh

3 weeks ago
2 Min Read

This week, protests against federal immigration enforcement are raging across the country after violent uprisings occurred in Los Angeles.

A protest of over 100 people took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday. The crowd gathered Downtown to demand an end to immigration raids in Pittsburgh and across the United States. 

The protests come as President Trump has prioritized border security and federal immigration enforcement during his second term in office. 

Over the weekend, violent protests took shape in Los Angeles, California. Law enforcement officers were assaulted, federal buildings were surrounded, and vehicles were set on fire in the street. The unrest prompted President Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to control the violent crowds. 

At one of the protests, SEIU California labor head David Huerta was detained by federal agents.

Across the United States, similar protests followed to push back against ICE and demand the release of Huerta, including in Pittsburgh. 

Protesters in the Steel City gathered outside of the federal courthouse in Downtown holding signs that said, “Stop ICE Raids Now”. The demonstrators chanted, “Pittsburgh is a union town, we don’t want no ICE around.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey attended the protest. He has previously directed Pittsburgh police not to cooperate with ICE officers. He has also criticized President Trump and his enforcement of immigration law. 

“I don’t believe it. I don’t see it, and I don’t believe that’s welcoming. It’s wrong and I’m here to make sure that I stand with them and tell them it’s wrong,” Gainey said of the news from Los Angeles. 

As the large crowd assembled to demand an end to ICE raids, Mayor Gainey said, “We are the home of Mister Rodgers. We need to do what is necessary to protect our immigrants.”