Protesters rally across Vermont over immigration, federal and military actions

On Saturday, protests were held in multiple communities, including Burlington and South Hero.Protesters gathered to speak out against immigration enforcement, federal authorities, and recent U.S. military actions.The demonstrations come after a series of high-profile events within the last week, including the capture of Venezuela’s president and the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.Organizers say those incidents, along with what they describe as increasingly aggressive federal actions, prompted people to take to the streets and demand accountability from lawmakers in Congress.”The things just keep happening,” said one demonstrator. “Even just over the last two weeks, we’ve seen a series of very violent actions by ICE, along with aggressive military action toward Venezuela.”Traven Leyshon of Calais raised concerns about what he called undemocratic actions and the role of federal forces in communities across the country.”To do something that’s totally undemocratic, things that have never been done in this country,” Leyshon said. “We need the National Guard defending us, not groups coming into our cities and terrorizing communities of color and immigrants.”

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

On Saturday, protests were held in multiple communities, including Burlington and South Hero.

Protesters gathered to speak out against immigration enforcement, federal authorities, and recent U.S. military actions.

The demonstrations come after a series of high-profile events within the last week, including the capture of Venezuela’s president and the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

Organizers say those incidents, along with what they describe as increasingly aggressive federal actions, prompted people to take to the streets and demand accountability from lawmakers in Congress.

“The things just keep happening,” said one demonstrator. “Even just over the last two weeks, we’ve seen a series of very violent actions by ICE, along with aggressive military action toward Venezuela.”

Traven Leyshon of Calais raised concerns about what he called undemocratic actions and the role of federal forces in communities across the country.

“To do something that’s totally undemocratic, things that have never been done in this country,” Leyshon said. “We need the National Guard defending us, not groups coming into our cities and terrorizing communities of color and immigrants.”