ICE Out Protest in Forsyth Park

On Friday, Jan. 23, a protest organized by members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) occurred in Forsyth Park. This protest was held in solidarity with Minnesota’s “ICE Out” protest, an event where hundreds of businesses closed down in observance of a general strike against ICE agents in the state of Minnesota.

On Dec. 31, 2025, 43-year-old father of three Keith Porter, Jr. was shot and killed by an off-duty ICE agent. Then, on Jan. 3, 2026, Cuban migrant and 55-year-old father of four, Geraldo Lunas Campos, died at Camp East Montana — an immigrant detention facility in El Paso, Texas. A witness reported to The Associated Press that Campos was handcuffed, while at least five guards pinned him down, and one squeezed his neck until he fell unconscious. Later, on Jan. 7, 2026, 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, was shot three times and killed by ICE Agent Jonathan Ross. 

At the protest in Forsyth Park, the names of these three individuals were spoken and honored by Tycen Tomms, A GSU student and member of the PSL’s Savannah branch.

“These are not isolated incidents. They are a system working as intended, a system of terror that rips parents from children, that cages people, that murders in the shadows of private detention centers,” said Tomms. 

Protesters not only wanted ICE agents out of Minnesota, but also advocated for the abolition of ICE altogether. They chanted “Abolish ICE!,” “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” and “No Trump, no KKK, no Fascist USA!”

Another “ICE Out” protest is planned for Saturday, Jan. 31 at noon in Forsyth Park. Flyers posted across the GSU Armstrong campus indicate that the event aims to draw attention to the increase in ICE presence in Georgia.

Protest Against ICE in Madison Square

The PSL’s protest in Forsyth was followed by another protest on Saturday, Jan. 24. Co-sponsored by Savannah Indivisible and the ACLU of Georgia, over 600 people were in attendance at Saturday’s protest. The killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was shot, around ten times, in the street by a federal agent on Saturday, Jan. 24, occurred the morning that the protest was scheduled. While the protest was planned before this devastating occurrence, Pretti’s killing was addressed by Erin Mayer, a speaker at the event.

“He was killed for just doing what we’re all doing,” said Mayer.

GSU Campus Protests

Protests have continued throughout the week, with students on the Georgia Southern Statesboro campus gathering outside of the Russell Union Rotunda on Jan. 28, to express “their frustration concerning the recent immigration and deportation situations across the country.”

A walk out demonstration is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30 at noon on the Armstrong campus. Students plan to gather in front of campus to demonstrate their solidarity with the people of Minnesota. Across the country, protests and general strikes are planned for Jan. 30 and 31, with organizers calling for “No work. No school, No shopping.”

Minnesotans’ Effort to Get ICE Agents Out of Minnesota

On Friday, Jan. 23, hundreds of small businesses closed down in collective support of a protest called “ICE Out of Minnesota.” Organizers described the protest as an economic blackout, and thousands of Minnesotans took the day to rally against increased numbers of federal agents being sent to Minneapolis. More than 3,000 agents have been deployed to the city, with ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons calling the effort the agency’s “largest immigration operation ever.”

Thousands of people took to the streets of Minneapolis to protest against this effort — despite The National Weather Service’s extreme cold warning — as temperatures were expected to drop 45 below zero. Meteorologists warned that the low temperatures could cause frostbite in 10 minutes, and people were encouraged to stay inside.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation

The Party for Socialism and Liberation is a political party that advocates for the end of capitalism and the rise of socialism. The party has run candidates in local, state, and presidential elections. The PSL aims to take power away from billionaire capitalists and give it to the working class.

“The Party for Socialism and Liberation believes that the only solution to the deepening crisis of capitalism is the socialist transformation of society,” states the party’s website.

The PSL offers numerous service opportunities, regardless of affiliation with the party itself. Armstrong students, who cannot commit to becoming a member, can still volunteer to assist with PSL events.