Fort Pierce rally protests immigration policies

A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT GLENN, THANK YOU. COVERING THE TREASURE COAST IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT CONTINUE TO RAMP UP TONIGHT. AND SOME IN THE COMMUNITY TOOK TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST WHAT THEY CALL AN INJUSTICE. AT THE SAME TIME, STATE OFFICIALS UNVEILED A NEW TOOL TO MONITOR ACTIVITY BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. TREASURE COAST BUREAU REPORTER ARI HAIT IS IN FORT PIERCE WITH MORE ON WHAT PROTESTERS THERE ARE TRYING TO DO. ANYBODY WHO DROVE BY THIS AREA ON FRIDAY NIGHT HAD TO SEE THE CROWD THAT WAS GATHERED HERE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE TELL ME THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT. THEY WANTED TO BE SEEN AND THEY WANTED THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD. FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS, ABOUT 100 PEOPLE STOOD ON THE CORNER OF U.S. ONE IN VIRGINIA AVENUE AND FORT PIERCE, PROTESTING THE COUNTRY’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES. ICE MELTS IN FLORIDA. THEY BROUGHT SIGNS SAYING THEY’RE AGAINST ICE. THEY STAND WITH IMMIGRANTS CALLING FOR DUE PROCESS FOR ALL. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS JUST IMMORAL AND WRONG. ONLY BROWN AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE GETTING TARGETED. AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW IN 2025, WE HAVE LEGALIZED RACIAL PROFILING. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE TO THE STREETS. WE’RE GOING TO BE PEACEFUL, WE’RE GOING TO BE LAW ABIDING, BUT WE’RE GOING TO BE LOUD. THESE FOLKS MADE IT CLEAR THEY DO NOT SUPPORT CRIMINALS. THEY SAY THIS PROTEST IS FOR LAW ABIDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS, WHO ARE NOW TARGETS FOR DEPORTATION. THEY’RE PULLING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. AND THAT’S NOT RIGHT TO SEE THAT WE STAND BEHIND THEM AND THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THEM. THE PROTEST COMES AS THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS UNVEILED A NEW ONLINE DASHBOARD DOCUMENTING WHERE ICE ENCOUNTERS HAPPEN, THE NATIONALITY OF THOSE ARRESTED, AND THE EVER CLIMBING NUMBER OF ICE ENCOUNTERS IN THE STATE. A NUMBER OF THESE FOLKS. ARE SO PROUD. WE HAVE HOPE DECREASES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS IS HOW. DEMOCRACY HAPPENS, AND THIS IS HOW CHANGE HAPPENS. IF WE DON’T DO STUFF LIKE THIS TO EXERCISE OUR FIRST AMENDMENT, WE’LL NEVER BE HEARD AT ALL. AND I WILL SAY, THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAD A PRETTY LARGE PRESENCE HERE FOR THIS PROTEST, BUT THEY WEREN’T NEEDED. FORTUNATELY, THIS PROTEST REMAIN

About 100 people gathered at the corner of U.S. 1 and Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce Friday night to protest the country’s immigration policies, aiming to make their voices heard against ICE and in support of immigrants, calling for due process for all.”What is happening is just immoral and wrong,” said Teresa Pelayo from Port St. Lucie.Sabrina Virto, the rally organizer, expressed concern over racial profiling, saying, “Only brown and black people are being targeted, and I don’t understand how in 2025, we have legalized racial profiling.”Bruno Moore from Fort Pierce emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest, stating, “We’re going to take to the streets. We’re going to be peaceful, we’re going to be law-abiding, but we’re going to be loud.”The protesters clarified that their demonstration was not in support of criminals but for law-abiding individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years and are now facing deportation. John Debus from Port St. Lucie criticized the current approach, saying, “Way they’re pulling the people off the streets and all that, that’s not right.”Pelayo said she was there to show support for those who have been targeted.”To see that we stand behind them and that we are fighting for them,” she said.The protest coincided with Florida’s launch of a new online dashboard that documents ICE encounters, the nationality of those arrested, and the increasing number of ICE encounters in the state. The demonstrators hope this number decreases soon.”This is how democracy happens and this is how change happens,” Moore said.Virto highlighted the importance of such protests, stating, “If we don’t do stuff like this to exercise our First Amendment, we’ll never be heard at all.”Participants believe that many targeted individuals wish to become U.S. citizens but face lengthy processes. They advocate for an easier path to citizenship rather than deporting law-abiding residents.

FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

About 100 people gathered at the corner of U.S. 1 and Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce Friday night to protest the country’s immigration policies, aiming to make their voices heard against ICE and in support of immigrants, calling for due process for all.

“What is happening is just immoral and wrong,” said Teresa Pelayo from Port St. Lucie.

Sabrina Virto, the rally organizer, expressed concern over racial profiling, saying, “Only brown and black people are being targeted, and I don’t understand how in 2025, we have legalized racial profiling.”

Bruno Moore from Fort Pierce emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest, stating, “We’re going to take to the streets. We’re going to be peaceful, we’re going to be law-abiding, but we’re going to be loud.”

The protesters clarified that their demonstration was not in support of criminals but for law-abiding individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years and are now facing deportation. John Debus from Port St. Lucie criticized the current approach, saying, “Way they’re pulling the people off the streets and all that, that’s not right.”

Pelayo said she was there to show support for those who have been targeted.

“To see that we stand behind them and that we are fighting for them,” she said.

The protest coincided with Florida’s launch of a new online dashboard that documents ICE encounters, the nationality of those arrested, and the increasing number of ICE encounters in the state. The demonstrators hope this number decreases soon.

“This is how democracy happens and this is how change happens,” Moore said.

Virto highlighted the importance of such protests, stating, “If we don’t do stuff like this to exercise our First Amendment, we’ll never be heard at all.”

Participants believe that many targeted individuals wish to become U.S. citizens but face lengthy processes. They advocate for an easier path to citizenship rather than deporting law-abiding residents.