4 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED BY VERMONT STATE POLICE TODAY… DURING A DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE ICE OFFICE IN WILLISTON. THAT DEMONSTRATION. .. CALLING FOR THAT ICE FACILITY TO BE áSHUTDOWN. THE DEMONSTRATION ON INDUSTRIAL AVENUE STARTED EARLY THIS MORNING AND LASTED UNTIL 12:30 THIS AFTERNOON NBC5’S YUNIER MARTINEZ WAS THERE IN WILLISTON AND BREAKS DOWN A DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE OF THIS ICE FACILITY IN WILLISTON LEAD TO SOME <NAT of Arrest> AFTER HOURS OF CHANTS… BLOCKED DOORS… AND PROTESTERS SITTING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS WILLISTON OFFICE BUILDING <NAT Arrest> STATE TROOPERS MOVED IN THURSDAY… ARRESTING 4 PEOPLE who had moved INSIDE the building but REFUSED TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY after multiple requests. Gó4428 00:00:28:04 – 00:00:36:27 <“This is one of two, ice surveillance facilities in the country, and we think it’s really important that we bring attention to this facility where thousands of people’s data is collected every day.”> ACTIVISTS WITH “ICE TOURS VERMONT” SAY THEY HAD ONLY ONE GOAL IN MIND 00:00:38:25 – 00:00:45:23 <“We are here today to archive our goal of shutting down the ice facility in Williston we have done that we have all the doors covered.”> JUST BEFORE NOON MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED… INCLUDING WILLISTON POLICE… VERMONT STATE POLICE… AND HOMELAND SECURITY V-S-P SAYS THE BUILDING OWNER ASKED TROOPERS TO REMOVE PEOPLE WHO WERE TRESPASSING… LEADING TO THESE 4 ARREST Gó4433 00:00:09:00 – 00:00:18:08 <“It’s important that Vermonters know that this facility is here in our state.”> Gó4432 00:00:41:18 – 00:00:53:12 <“That’s why we’re here. We’ll be here as long as we can to shut down the work that’s happening here and hope to deter some of that violence. And we’re going to be here as long as facility is out of Vermont.”> <NAT Counter- protester> one COUNTER- PROTESTER arrived later than the original group WAVING A FLAG THAT READ “I SUPPORT ICE”… SAYING HE BELIEVES POLICE MADE THE RIGHT CALL 00:02:18:02 – 00:02:36:10 <“They go out there in the field. They try to conduct their business and they get mob by groups like this. How are you supposed to conduct peaceful business and do a correct interview with somebody when you’re being mob by people I don’t blame them for cuffing the people and throwing them in the car and taking them down to the barracks where they can work everything out.”> NOW PROTESTERS TELL ME THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE HOLDING THESE DEMONSTRATIONS AT THIS FACILITY … UNTIL I-C-E IS NO LONGER OPERATING OUT OF THIS BUILDING IN WILLISTON I’M YUNIER MARTINEZ The four individuals were cited to appear at 8:30 a.m. June 30 in the Criminal Division 8:30 a.m. June 30 in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Burlington We reached out to Chittenden County State’s Attorney S
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Several activists arrested following anti-ICE protest and sit-in in Williston, Vermont
Four people have been arrested on criminal trespass and resisting arrest charges after activists staged an anti-ICE protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surveillance facility in Williston on Thursday morning.The group, which totaled several dozen people, said they were protesting recent federal immigration policies and attempting to block workers from entering the office building.ICE Tours VT, which describes itself as an activist organization focused on immigration enforcement issues, said it was not involved in Thursday’s demonstration.On Thursday afternoon, VSP identified the people who were arrested as: Aiden Balentine, 39, of Montpelier. Casey Seem, 20, of Oakham, Massachusetts. Peter Booth, 58, of Jericho. Henry Prensky, 79, of Burlington.Members of the demonstration told NBC5 that they were staging a “multigenerational nonviolent civil disobedience with blockade, tombstones of dead in ICE custody” outside the ICE office on Industrial Avenue.“This is one of two ICE surveillance facilities in the country, and we think it’s really important that we bring attention to this facility where thousands of people’s data is collected every day,” one protest organizer told NBC5.The building owner where the protest happened said that the activists were told to leave but refused to do so.“We’re going to be here as long as it takes. Time and time again until this facility is out of Vermont,” one protester said.Vermont State Police and members of the Williston Police Department were on scene to speak with protest leaders prior to the arrests. Several protesters left the building following those talks, while others indicated they would not move and would have to be arrested. None of the people arrested agreed comply with fingerprinting and photographing procedures during their booking, police said.As the protest wound down later Thursday afternoon, a counter-protester arrived holding a flag reading “I Support ICE,” saying he believed law enforcement was justified in making the arrests.All four people have been cited to appear in court on June 30 to answer the charges. NBC5 also reached out to Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George for comment. George said it was too soon to comment on the case without having all of the information.
Four people have been arrested on criminal trespass and resisting arrest charges after activists staged an anti-ICE protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surveillance facility in Williston on Thursday morning.
The group, which totaled several dozen people, said they were protesting recent federal immigration policies and attempting to block workers from entering the office building.
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ICE Tours VT, which describes itself as an activist organization focused on immigration enforcement issues, said it was not involved in Thursday’s demonstration.
On Thursday afternoon, VSP identified the people who were arrested as:
- Aiden Balentine, 39, of Montpelier.
- Casey Seem, 20, of Oakham, Massachusetts.
- Peter Booth, 58, of Jericho.
- Henry Prensky, 79, of Burlington.
Members of the demonstration told NBC5 that they were staging a “multigenerational nonviolent civil disobedience with blockade, tombstones of dead in ICE custody” outside the ICE office on Industrial Avenue.
“This is one of two ICE surveillance facilities in the country, and we think it’s really important that we bring attention to this facility where thousands of people’s data is collected every day,” one protest organizer told NBC5.
The building owner where the protest happened said that the activists were told to leave but refused to do so.
“We’re going to be here as long as it takes. Time and time again until this facility is out of Vermont,” one protester said.
Vermont State Police and members of the Williston Police Department were on scene to speak with protest leaders prior to the arrests. Several protesters left the building following those talks, while others indicated they would not move and would have to be arrested.
None of the people arrested agreed comply with fingerprinting and photographing procedures during their booking, police said.
As the protest wound down later Thursday afternoon, a counter-protester arrived holding a flag reading “I Support ICE,” saying he believed law enforcement was justified in making the arrests.
All four people have been cited to appear in court on June 30 to answer the charges.
NBC5 also reached out to Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George for comment. George said it was too soon to comment on the case without having all of the information.
