Syracuse, N.Y. - Over 80 people gathered in Clinton Square on Monday evening to protest against the detention of Syracuse residents by ICE.
Chants of ‘bring them home’ rang out in the otherwise quiet city center as a series of local officials and union leaders spoke to attendees.
Some shed tears as they reflected on the holiday spirit seizing the city despite the fact that some community members would not be there to see the celebrations. Instead, they are locked in detention facilities around the country.
The primary focuses of the protest were Alcibiades “Alex” Lazaro Ramirez Gonzalez and Yannier “Yan” Vazquez Hidalgo, a pair of SUNY Upstate Medical Center workers who were detained before a hearing in October at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Mattydale.
The two men, who got married this fall, have requested asylum protections in the United States after fleeing their native Cuba.
Mohammed Fofana and Jeremy Dottin-Reina, another pair of Syracuse residents targeted by ICE, were also a subject of discussion.
The vigil, which started around 5 p.m., featured glowsticks, candles, posters and shirts despite the somber mood. Many of these materials were provided by UUP and CSEA, the unions the pair were members of.
Ali Cottrell, the president of CSEA Local 615 at Upstate, and Mindy Heath, the president of the UUP chapter at Upstate, told the crowd that they had attended a hearing for Alex on Monday in Batavia, and that he would have his next hearing on Jan. 13.
“We wanted them home for the holidays” Heath told the crowd. The city center was lit up by Christmas lights as she described what celebrating a holiday would be like for families with an empty chair.
“But getting them home, that’s the ultimate goal. This won’t stop us,” she said.
Heath told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that in following this case, she has learned how unfair the justice system can be to immigrants seeking asylum. “It’s just not normal, in any way. You almost can’t believe it.” she said.
Other speakers discussed the city’s history of resisting oppression, including the nearby Jerry Rescue Monument and the Underground Railroad during the 1800s.
Heath said they plan to hold more vigils and rallies, but there is no clear timeline. She plans to continue attending hearings for Alex and Yan. Yan’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.
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