3 Arrested at Grand Rapids Immigrant Demonstration

Recently, three immigrant rights activists were arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after they were said to be obstructing the flow of traffic during a planned demonstration.

RELATED:
Undocumented Immigrant Rights Leader Makes TIME’s 100 Most Influential People

National immigrant rights group Movimiento Cosecha stated in a release that the demonstration was the group’s first in a series of planned actions leading up to the big May 1 event. The group marched on the city's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building with a banner that read, “We stop disrupting you when you stop disrupting our families,” as well as other signs advocating for an end to deportations.

A union worker from Grand Rapids, Jay DeShane, said in a press release: “Worker rights are immigrant rights.”

On being arrested, DeShane recounted, “I was arrested today, to show the immigrant community that I will be here for them today, and when they join the May 1st strikes and boycotts. Trump might blame immigrants for unemployment and income inequality in our state, but the truth is that when immigrants are treated with dignity and respect, when they are given permanent protection from deportation, (they) are able to unionize and organize for better pay, that helps all of us. We refuse to let Trump and the millionaires divide our communities for profit.”