As groups of Connecticut residents, businesses and organizations plan to participate in a “national shutdown” in reaction to the recent Trump administration ICE shooting deaths in Minnesota, one first selectperson has gone on the record supporting “our immigrant friends.”
The Jan. 30-31 shutdown is timed to go with a Congressional vote on an appropriations bill that would give the Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement additional funding. Protestors are calling for representatives and senators to vote against the bill without including major reforms.
The national shutdown is part of an effort by community groups nationwide to protest the shooting deaths of American citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good as they shot video and attempted to protect immigrants who were being detained by ICE officers.
Meanwhile, Fairfield First Selectperson Christine Vitale wrote a statement Jan. 27 to the public criticizing federal ICE action in Minnesota over the past week.
“This past weekend brought snow, but it also brought more disturbing news and heartbreaking images out of Minneapolis,” Vitale wrote. “In a matter of weeks, federal government control and enforcement has again resulted in the loss of life of a U.S. citizen: this should concern us all.”
Vitale, who is running for reelection for first selectperson against Republican challenger Sen. Tony Hwang on Feb. 3, pointed out the importance of immigrants to Fairfield’s community and economy.
“Fairfield’s immigrant population is a vital part of our community,” she wrote. “They helped build this town.” She added that they work and run local businesses, teach in schools, preach in the town’s houses of worship, volunteer and work within town government.
Hwang, who petitioned to run first selectperson after the late First Selectman Bill Gerber died this summer, did not respond to a request to respond to Vitale’s statement.
In her statement, the first selectperson raised the relevance of the state Trust Act. “The Trust Act protects civil liberties and ensures the local and state police are not deputized to carry out federal immigration enforcement,” Vitale wrote. “This allows our officers to focus on what matters most – building and maintaining trust with all members of our community, protecting public safety and enforcing criminal laws, motor vehicle laws and town ordinances.”
Gov. Ned Lamont made his voice heard on the ICE situation in Minnesota, even joining U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro in calling for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“Kristi Noem needs to go,” he told reporters. “That’s not a question, but let’s not pretend that solves everything. The Trump Administration has created a culture in ICE that allows for federal agents to violate Americans’ civil rights. That’s not how law enforcement should act.”
National shutdown details
Groups that are participating in the national shutdown are asking people to refrain from work, school, and shopping during the protest period. As of Jan. 28, events are scheduled in New Haven and New London on Friday and additional actions are planned earlier in the week in Avon and Greenwich.
Some of the participating groups include:
- Hearing Youth Voices
- CT Nurses United
- Party for Socialism and Liberation (Connecticut branch)
- Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America
- Workers’ Voice CT
- Indivisible Southeast CT
- Indivisible Farmington Valley
- Greenwich Fellowship of Clergy
- The People’s Budget
- Abya Yala-Palestine Mental Health Network
- Red Square
- ACT UP CT
