BES member Bonnie Raven Lane organized a protest against ICE to show support for immigrants who are being arrested and deported in violation of their rights. The protest began in front of the Federal Building at Hopkins Plaza with a speech by Rev. Annie and then marched to City Hall. Speakers at City Hall began with a keynote by Crisaly De Los Santos, Director of CASA for Baltimore and Central Maryland, calling for solidarity with immigrants. Ethical Leader Hugh Taft-Morales spoke and pointed out that immigrants are vital to our progress and economy. Half of U.S. Nobel Prize winners were immigrants, and half of Fortune 500 company founders were immigrants. The Poor People’s Army sent a group all the way from Philadelphia to join us and gave a great speech. Several speakers were from the People’s Power Assembly. Friend of the society, Diamonte Brown, attended with the Ujima People’s Party. Raven articulated the following demands:
- We want Donald Trump to stop persecuting immigrants.
- We want Brandon Scott and Wes Moore to not cooperate with ICE at all.
- We want ICE to not have headquarters in Baltimore.
- Stop deporting children.