TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A recent ICE protest brought contrasting viewpoints to the center of Troy University’s campus.
Around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, students and community members gathered around the fountain on Troy University’s campus to protest recent actions by federal immigration authorities and raise awareness about national concerns surrounding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The demonstration was organized by student Bea Barrier, who said the protest was inspired by increased conversations about federal agents’ presence across the country. The walkout also came on the heels of Renee Good’s death, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, who was killed in Minneapolis Jan. 7 when an ICE officer fired into her vehicle as well as the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti.
Barrier said he wanted to use his voice to stand up for what he believes is right.
“There’s no lawful order,” Barrier said. “They don’t even give people a chance to identify themselves. They walk up to someone just because of how they look and detain them.
“I’ve seen so many videos online, and no one seems to be doing anything about it.”
After seeing Barrier’s message online, several others decided to join the cause, including healthcare worker Haley Morgan.
“I work in health care, so the killing of an ICU nurse hit close to home,” Morgan said. “That could’ve been me if I was caught in the wrong situation.”
Around 50 students walked out of their classes and gathered around the fountain, holding posters, engaging in conversations, and chanting together. Demonstrators could be heard chanting “No justice, no peace” throughout the event.
Protester India Wilson said her faith played a role in her decision to participate.
“I think it’s really wrong,” Wilson said. “Even American citizens are being detained and harassed. I’m a Christian, and I put a Bible verse on my sign about treating immigrants as native-born.”
“If we need to use our voice, we will,” Barrier said.
Faith Merrill, a locally-known conservative influencer and sophomore political science major from Niceville, Florida, was on the quad during the protest. Merrill clarified she was not at the walkout to counter-protest, but to interview students for the media outlet “Off the Record USA.”
However, Merrill expressed her opinion of ICE and the deaths of Good and Pretti.
“I’m very pro-ICE,” Merrill said. “I don’t think it’s okay to have illegal immigrants here raping our women and bringing in drugs.
“When it comes to Alex Pretti and Renee Good, it’s tragic, I don’t want anyone to die. At the end of the day, if you are obstructing a federal officer, things are going to happen.”
After interviewing students, Merrill described how some of her conversations unfolded.
“I could scroll on TikTok for 30 minutes and find this exact protest,” Merrill said. “It’s all a bunch of one-liners. They like to bring up the fact that ICE doesn’t have warrants.
“I bring up the fact that ICE has administrative warrants. No one knows what that is here. That’s basic ICE knowledge. Obviously, they’re bold enough to come out here and hold a sign. If you can hold a sign, you can tell me what you’re protesting. If you can’t and it’s easy to make you look dumb, you shouldn’t be out here holding a sign in, it’s that simple.”
The walkout lasted roughly an hour before students returned to class. The display of free speech concluded peacefully, with no disruptions. University officials did not immediately comment on the demonstration.
