Protesters use CWS as backdrop to decry Trump immigration policies, raids

A parade of protesters lined multiple blocks of downtown Omaha Friday evening to protest this week's ICE raid that led to nearly 80 workers being detained, including some suspected of using stolen IDs to gain employment. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
OMAHA — Using Nebraska's crown jewel of tourism as a backdrop, several hundred protesters marched amid College World Series fans Friday night — chanting and carrying signs criticizing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics.
The demonstration in downtown Omaha was sparked by organizers including Juan Elizondo, in the wake of Tuesday's high-profile worksite enforcement raid on a food plant in Omaha that led to the detention of nearly 80 workers.
'We hope to gain attention to our despair,' Elizondo, 32, said of the protest on opening day of the nationally televised NCAA men's baseball tournament. 'All of us know somebody affected. They are people of the community. We are the product of our community, and we feel it's our duty to step up and have our voices heard.'
On the heels of Friday's protest is another planned midday Saturday across the Missouri River, at Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs. That rally, separately organized, brings together Omaha and Bluffs residents to join the national 'No Kings' protests calling out what organizers describe as authoritarian overreach by the Trump administration.
Organizers behind the 'No Kings' protests have branded Saturday as a 'day of defiance.' According to their website, 13 protests are planned throughout Nebraska, including in Lincoln.
'Our nation is our combined effort,' said Kevin Gibbs, chair of Indivisible Nebraska. 'No one person owns it. … We Nebraskans and Iowans take this opportunity to stand in this moment together and defend America's shared vision against those who would cut it down to serve themselves.'
Gov. Jim Pillen, a public supporter of the president's actions, on Friday issued an emergency proclamation that activated the Nebraska National Guard and prepared state law enforcement resources for immediate deployment, if needed.
Friday's immigration enforcement-related demonstration in downtown Omaha — which played out largely on the corridor between the CHI Health Center and Charles Schwab Field, where CWS teams play — appeared peaceful. Elizondo estimated that more than 1,000 people participated.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which led the Tuesday raid, announced that it had arrested four protesters on Thursday for 'aggressive' actions during and immediately after the raid at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha.
ICE officials said the agency targeted Glenn Valley because of suspected use of stolen or fraudulent identification by workers to gain employment — and described 'victims' of the situation as those whose personal information was fraudulently used or stolen.
Demonstrators at the Friday anti-ICE march had a different message. They held placards with messages such as 'Decriminalize Immigration,' 'ICE is bitter cold,' 'Keep Families Together,' 'Hands off our community' and 'Irony: a 34-count felon calling immigrants criminals.'
Among those protesting were Stephanie Campos, Gustavo Campos and Antonio Mendoza of the Omaha area. They said they were surprised but glad to see the large number of supporters who gathered first at a riverfront volleyball court and walked several blocks to the CWS area, which was bustling with activity.
'It's good to see all the different ethnicities come together,' said Mendoza, 25. 'Whatever background we come from, we know right from wrong.'
Gustavo Campos, 21, hoped protests nationally against immigration tactics will make a difference. But he said that in any case, he wanted to show support 'for families, my community.'
Said Mendoza, 25: 'Just to be heard and seen is huge — showing up.'
The Trump administration seemed to acknowledge some of the public pushback nationally and perhaps industry-level pushback from farmers, meatpackers and food processors with new guidance this week largely pausing immigration raids and arrests in the agriculture and hospitality industries, according to a Friday report in the New York Times.
The heartland protests coincide with larger, mostly peaceful but tenser demonstrations in Los Angeles as a result of recent ICE raids there.
The Trump administration and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have been butting heads as the president deployed 4,000 California National Guard and 700 Marines to the second-largest U.S. city in response to the protests — but without permission from the state's Democratic governor.
Newsom responded by accusing Trump of choosing 'theatrics over public safety' and escalating the 'chaos.' The California governor sued the Trump administration over the federalization and deployment of the National Guard.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and 18 other Republican attorneys general joined a legal brief in support of Trump's deployment of the National Guard, arguing that Trump has the 'authority' to do so.
'We stand with law enforcement, we support President Trump's action, and we will not let chaos take hold in our states,' Hilgers said in a joint statement.
The events in Los Angeles have sparked similar protests in Texas, New York, Illinois and other parts of the country. More protests are planned this weekend as Trump plans a military parade to celebrate the Army's anniversary in Washington D.C. this Saturday.
Omaha Mayor John Ewing, a Democrat who took office earlier this week after unseating three-term Republican Mayor Jean Stothert, said the city is thankful for 'how peacefully' protesters in Omaha so far have handled the ICE raid.
He said acts of violence or vandalism will not be tolerated and 'frankly hurt any message protesters want to give.'
'Omaha Police have plans in place to let peaceful protests occur without obstruction to the game,' he said.
Rally-goers hold signs that many made themselves. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
A parade of protesters lined multiple blocks of downtown Omaha Friday night to protest this week's ICE raid that led to detention of nearly 80 workers at an Omaha food plant. ICE says the plant was targeted because of workers suspected of using fraudulent or stolen IDs to gain jobs. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
Protesters came from a variety of races, ages. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
Protesters carried signs and chanted for hours. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
A group of protesters gathered Friday night near the College World Series. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
The Friday night protests drew people with homemade signs. (CIndy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
A parade of protesters lined multiple blocks of downtown Omaha Friday night to protest this week's ICE raid that led to nearly 80 arrests of workers at an Omaha food plant, at least some of who are accused of using stolen IDs to gain employment. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
Supporters handed out water bottles to rally-goers on the hot Friday night that opened the CWS. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
Friday night protest of Trump immigration policies. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
A look at Friday's anti-ICE rally in Omaha. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
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