People are getting creative in how they denounce ICE raids in their communities. In recent weeks, hundreds have gathered at Home Depot stores throughout the country protesting ICE’s presence. Demonstrators have organized symbolic “buy-in” protests where dozens line up to buy a single 17¢ ice scraper, only to immediately line up again and return it. The intention is to disrupt the business for allowing ICE in their stores. At one store in Los Angeles County, management did temporarily close down the store in response to the protest. One organizer noted how they “can shut for this, but [they] cannot, have not, shut them when an ICE raid and abuse is happening.”
Border patrol agents have continually targeted the retailer’s parking lots where day laborers have long been present providing work-for-hire services. ICE agents have also carried out arrests inside some stores. Home Depot representatives have stated that they are not given prior notice about ICE operations and that they do not cooperate with the raids.
Actions like this show that people are ready to show up in solidarity for immigrants in their community. Similar demonstrations are also being planned for the coming weeks. People are showing that whether or not a corporation does something to prevent deportations happening on their property, they can organize themselves to oppose these attacks from federal agents.
What would it take to also involve Home Depot retail workers who are forced to witness these raids without support or a protocol from their employer? After all, they are the ones who face ICE terror in the stores, and then deal with all the sales and returns – not management and definitely not the executives! There is an opportunity to strengthen these actions by uniting with these workers and scraping ICE out together!
