Italians were disturbed by the recent events of the U.S.’s massive immigration crackdown(Image: Getty Images)
The International Olympic Committee was forced to ask fans to hold their boos toward the U.S. delegation as the Milan Winter Olympics kicked off Friday.
Sports fans were implored not to boo Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Friday’s opening ceremony for the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
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International sports fans have been up in arms following the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that members of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit would provide security for the winter games. The news sparked a massive uproar and petitions against ICE’s deployment in Milan.
At a Wednesday press conference, IOC President Kirsty Coventry was asked whether, given the “geopolitical backdrop” of the Games and local uproar over ICE’s involvement, if she thought it would be understandable if Americans were jeered during the opening ceremony, reports the Daily Beast.
“I hope that the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful of each other,” she said, before describing visiting the Olympic village and seeing athletes interacting from all walks of life, reports the Daily Beast.
International sports fans have been up in arms following the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that members of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit would provide security for the winter games(Image: Getty Images)
“No one is asking what country they come from or what religion. They are all just hanging out,” she said. “It was a real opportunity to put into perspective how we could all be. And so, for me, I hope that the opening ceremony will do that and will be a reminder for everyone how we could be.”
Prior to the start of the winter games, Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, told RTL radio that ICE agents weren’t welcome in the city “because they don’t guarantee they’re aligned with our democratic security management methods.”
“This is a militia that kills,” he said. “It’s clear that they are not welcome in Milan, there’s no doubt about it. Can’t we just say no to Trump for once? We can take care of their security ourselves. We don’t need ICE.”
Furthermore, Italians were disturbed by the recent events of the U.S.’s massive immigration crackdown. Images from U.S. media have depicted the swarms of ICE officers being deployed to Minnesota, entering homes, and pepper-spraying protesters. Furthermore, their misgivings intensified following the recent ICE-involved shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered at the city’s Piazza 25 Aprile -named for the day in 1945 that Italy was liberated from the Nazis- to protest ICE’s presence at the Olympics, and spotlight what many believe is the unraveling of American democracy.