VIENNA, W.Va. (WTAP) – Indivisible Mid-Ohio Valley organized a demonstration following the Minneapolis shooting and the situation in Venezuela.
More than 100 people gathered along Grand Central Avenue Saturday, Jan. 10 to protest what they called abusive immigration enforcement and possible U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
The Indivisible chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley organized the demonstration, which drew protesters of various ages holding signs as vehicles passed by. Organizers said 26,299 vehicles passed the protest location.
Caroline Martin, a protester, said the event originally focused on Venezuela but expanded to include immigration enforcement after recent events in Minneapolis.
“What started out as a protest that was scheduled for protesting what had gone on in Venezuela, kind of turned to two different subjects with what happened in Minneapolis over the past few days,” Martin said.
The protest initially centered on opposing what organizers called “no war for oil” but shifted focus after the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis this week.
Lori Flis with Indivisible MOV, said the incidents are connected and that people’s rights are being violated both domestically and internationally.
“We absolutely disagree with the murder of fishermen, people in their boats without due process. We also are not in agreement with the Trump administration going into Venezuela without the approval of Congress, with no real plan for what to do next,” Flis said. “We are also here today because of the action that took place in Minneapolis, the murder of a young woman for absolutely no reason. We thought that it was despicable and also that it’s frightening because it could happen anywhere to anyone.”
Eric Engle said Immigration and Customs Enforcement committed what he called murder in Minneapolis.
“ICE committed murder in Minneapolis, plain and simple. I mean, a woman was murdered by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, and that’s really the impetus behind being out here today,” Engle said. “The human rights abuses that are going on, and frankly, the murder that is going on, must stop and it must stop now.”
Protesters included veterans and longtime activists who said they were concerned about what they viewed as unchecked policies and potential abuses of power.
Sandy Laird said she attended because of the Minneapolis incident and disagreed with actions in Venezuela.
“We don’t live in a police state, and that’s what it seems like we’re in now,” Laird said. “A woman was murdered this week. The least I can do is go stand up and show that that’s not okay.”
Cheryl Canaday, 73, said she had never been politically involved until this year.
“I’ve always been apolitical. I’ve always had political interest and have felt it my obligation to be educated politically, but I’ve never been involved until this year,” Canaday said. “I think because this year it has felt so much like this is not my America.”
Combat veteran Randall Sims said he attended to help stop what he viewed as escalating conflicts.
“We’ve got to carry this protest out nationwide and stop the killings that’s going on in this country and prevent us from going into the killings of the war,” Sims said.
Martin said the protest was important because recent events have been devastating.
“This one felt especially important to me because I don’t see any difference between that woman who was shot and killed and me. I’ve been exercising my right to protest in public spaces and using my voice, which we’re all allowed to do,” Martin said. “To me, that’s what she was doing and she got killed.”
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