Targets are two Immigration and Customs facilities in Williston
By Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First
A proposed week-long effort in Vermont to try to shut down national operations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Williston began to organize locally on Sunday afternoon.
A series of protests and gatherings are planned throughout this week as part of “Shut Down ICE VT” to disrupt two ICE facilities in Vermont, but the protesters may not see too many government workers. ICE has reportedly encouraged their employees to work from home or remotely this week.
The Law Enforcement Support Center at 188 Harvest Lane and the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center at 426 Industrial Avenue are the two primary targets for the protesters this week.
The protesters have been recruited from along the east coast to come disrupt ICE operations, organizers have said.
The ICE operations are in private buildings that have space rented to other tenants.
It is unclear what steps the Vermont Department for Children and Families, some medical offices and the Simply Divine Café, which also are part of the White Cap Business Park at 426 Industrial Avenue, have undertaken for their employees.
Organizers are hoping to get local businesses, organizations, unions and individuals to say they will not provide goods or services to the ICE Surveillance centers in Williston.
The protesters say they also plan to attend the Burlington Airport Commission on Wednesday afternoon to ask for its support in trying to block ICE from using the public facility to transport detainees out of state.
Col. Shawn Loan, director of the Vermont State Police, told Vermont News First on Friday afternoon he is hopeful that the protesters remain peaceful when they assemble as provided under the First Amendment.
Organizers have said they do plan to take over Harvest Lane on Friday afternoon
Organizers are using the First Unitarian Universalist Society Church at the top of Church Street as one of its prime bases of operations.
Other events are planned for the Shelburne Museum, the Rec Zone at Williston Parks and Rec and several beer places, including, Burlington Beer Company and Switchback Brewing, both on Flynn Avenue, Foam Brewers on Lake Street and Four Quarters Brewing on Main Street in Winooski.
Organizers planned to start welcoming participants at the UU Church about 3:30 p.m. Sunday. They said they hoped to share some information about the week before a meal at 6 p.m.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George has refused to prosecute most of the recent anti-ICE activists who police said trespassed on private property and refused to leave on a handful of dates this year.
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, who has concurrent state jurisdiction to prosecute crimes, has proceeded with criminal charges against 13 of the trespassers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont also gave notice last week that it is charging five defendants, including four that have been arrested multiple times at the ICE facility on Industrial Avenue.