Protests in response to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation of non-US citizens continue to rock the nation. Following last week’s protest in Dallas, Texas, footage of a large-scale protest in Asheville, North Carolina is going viral on Reddit. In the footage, hundreds of protestors cheer and whoop, many speaking Spanish, as Mexican flags are waved and the police struggle to contain the crowds.
In what is becoming an increasingly common sight in the US, the video shows hundreds of individuals of Latino descent vocally protesting ICE measures. President Trump has wasted no time in cracking down on what he terms illegal immigrants, ramping up deportations of those not considered to be US citizens. Numerous stories have surfaced illustrating just how aggressively ICE agents are undertaking their jobs. It’s no wonder, then, that many Latino citizens are up in arms.
The protest in Asheville, North Carolina, appears to be mostly peaceful, but the sheer number of protestors involved must be giving police enforcement a headache. The situation feels like a tinderbox, ready to combust with the smallest spark.
While the feeling of anger and fear is understandable, many on Reddit have questioned the wisdom of such protests. “People really need to stop with the non-US flags at these protests,” one user commented. The Redditor went on to suggest that, rather than waving Mexican and other Latin country flags, American flags should be everywhere. The rationale is that, in that way, the protestors would be more proudly declaring themselves US citizens. Another commenter surmised that the protest was, “playing straight into MAGAs propaganda with the Mexican flags.”
On the other hand, the protestors should have the right to proudly express their heritage. Just because they are of, say, Mexican descent, it doesn’t mean they haven’t also become US citizens. In reality, though, the flying of non-US flags may just reinforce President Trump’s determination to deport immigrants. The protestors could, in effect, be painting a target on their backs.
Whatever your stance on the anti-ICE protests, it’s clear that the illegal immigration topic is a very heated and controversial one. And, as ICE action and protests continue across the US, it’s showing no signs of abating any time soon.
