‘It just breaks my heart’: Silent standout in Northampton protests ICE detainments, deportations

NORTHAMPTON — It’s not uncommon to see protesters and activists assembled in front of Northampton City Hall, speaking out in support of social issues and against injustices of the day.

But the gathering held there early Thursday afternoon did not feature boisterous speeches or calls to action; rather, it struck a more somber tone in protesting against the detention and deportation of immigrants and foreign nationals in the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Several local activists stood silently on the steps of City Hall holding up signs denoting several Massachusetts residents who had been detained by ICE in recent months, including Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a high school student in Milford, and Geovani De La Cruz Catalan, who recently graduated from high school in the Boston suburb of Chelsea. Around 100 people also came to participate, marching to Pleasant Street and back to City Hall in a silent procession. The only sounds in the protest came from local musician Gerard Simonette, who sang the song “Anthem” from the musical “Chess.”

The event in Northampton, billed as a “silent bearing witness” rather than a protest or demonstration, coincided with nationwide “Disappeared in America” actions to protest against ICE. A protest also was held in Boston the same day, along with a solidarity event in Holyoke later in the afternoon.

Janet Nelson, one of the organizers of the Northampton event, said it had been organized by her and five of her friends after hearing about the total number of people detained by ICE in Massachusetts. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a press conference in Boston earlier this month there had been nearly 1,500 people in the state detained by the agency since March, with 54% of those having criminal records or charges pending.

“There’s no safe space. There’s no blue bubble,” Nelson said in an interview, referring the perception that Massachusetts differs politically from President Donald Trump’s policies. “We thought that doing something silent would cause people to quiet themselves, and really think about what’s going on.”

Along with Nelson and her friends, other participants included longtime activists, faith-based organizations, immigrant rights groups and local citizens.

Diane Borowski, of Easthampton, said it was her first time participating in an action like this.

“It just breaks my heart. This is America,” Borowski said. “I just need to do my part. If everything breaks loose, at least I can say I tried.”

Also participating in the action on Wednesday was Shel Horowitz of Hadley, a member of the group Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice.

“I think it’s important people came out to commemorate these illegal, unprincipled actions,” Horowitz said. “Cruelty should never be government policy, and that’s what this is.”

Thursday’s action joins numerous protests held in the region in recent months to protest the administration and policies of President Trump. On June 14, thousands of residents rallied in Northampton in Springfield as part of a nationwide “No Kings” protest. Activists also have demonstrated on overpasses on the I-91 highway, hanging signs in dissent.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.