With rallies expanding across the country against ICE violence and the Trump administration, civil rights groups and others in Connecticut are advising protestors and observers alike to step up their own personal security.
In a wave rarely seen since the Vietnam era, protest organizers nationally are issuing detailed guidance for how individuals can best protect themselves from attacks by armed federal agents or counter-protestors.
In Connecticut there has been a new push to have Gov. Ned Lamont block President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard against citizens, with an online workshop by Trump opponents warning recently that the large-scale deployment of federal agents in Minnesota is likely to come to Connecticut.
“It’s only a matter of time,” Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director at CT Students for a Dream, told more than 300 people on a Zoom call last Monday evening. “Make no mistake about it, the Trump Administration will be coming to Connecticut sooner or later.”
When asked about the best techniques for defusing tense encounters while still maintaining the right to protect, civil rights advocates in Connecticut are generally recommending online training in turning down the heat on face-to-face encounters with ICE agents or counter-protestors.
“The ACLU of Connecticut provides know-your-rights materials and de-escalation training for protesters and legal observers, with a focus on constitutional protections and the lawful documentation of police activity,” said Chelsea-Infinity Gonzalez, director of public policy and advocacy at the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut.
“People have the right to observe and record law enforcement in public spaces, as long as they are not interfering, and officers may not order people to stop recording simply because they are being filmed,” Gonzalez said in a written statement. “If someone believes their rights, or someone else’s, were violated, we encourage them to document what happened and seek legal support.”
“ICE Out of Everywhere” demonstrations have been spreading across the country since agents gunned down two citizens within two weeks on the streets of Minneapolis. In addition, scores of videos and news accounts have been circulating this month showing ICE agents pepper-spraying residents or throwing them to the ground in California, Arizona, Minnesota and elsewhere.
In some cases, the trouble happened at organized protests; in others, it occurred when groups of civilians converged on an area where ICE was hunting for undocumented immigrants. Defenders of ICE and the Trump administration have consistently blamed the civilians for provoking violence.
Connecticut organizers of anti-ICE rallies emphasize that they instruct protestors to remain lawful, but believe that Trump’s administration has essentially given ICE agents free rein to violate state law and the Constitution.
“I tell people who want to get involved to reach out to their union or faith group or community organizations to get training on how to maintain Constitutional rights while lessening the likelihood that they’re not safe,” said Leslie Blatteau, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, which has cosponsored numerous anti-ICE rallies as well as remembrances for its victims.
“The trainings are about Constitutional rights and also about de-escalation, about making choices around responding in the moment.
Numerous anti-ICE organizations in Connecticut are recommending their members seek training through the No Kings group, which plans an online session this week. “Eyes on ICE: Document and Record” is scheduled for Thursday evening.
“Enough is enough. Exercising our Constitutional right to document and record ICE and other federal agents is more important than ever,” the No Kings group says.
“This call will give you the tools to exercise your rights in a moment when federal agents are terrorizing our communities and using excessive force. We will cover the latest updates on ICE and CBP’s out-of-control and dangerous operations. We will talk through rights when documenting and recording law enforcement encounters, and how you can continue to take action.”
John Brady, vice president of the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut affiliate, said he expects protests in Connecticut to go smoothly.
“I have every confidence in the Capitol Police to be defending peaceful protestors. I would expect that, it’s the culture we should have,” he said. “That’s one of the worst things about the recent ICE tactics: They paint with a broad brush. They’re a disservice to all peace officers who are doing things the right way. But what’s been happening is sanctioned by the administration.”
Connecticut law enforcement officials confirmed last week that state law requires police to intervene if they see abuse by federal agents, the Connecticut Mirror reported.
“I would expect that if a Connecticut police officer saw any law enforcement anywhere that was abusing or violating the rights or using excessive force, that they would step in and intervene,” said Ronnell Higgins, the commissioner of emergency services and public protection.
The Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America said it is working with community “rapid response networks” to emphasize the best ways to safely observe and report on ICE activities.
“We recommend that individuals practice SALUTE when reporting such activity, safely record from a distance, and not approach federal agents when alone or outnumbered. We know from video and personal experience that ICE does not care about our Constitutional right to film their crimes, and encourage safety even as communities bravely step up to hold them accountable,” the organization said in a written statement.
Asked whether people who’ve been attacked by ICE should contact local police, the organization wrote” “While it is up to individuals and groups to decide if a police report is the best way to document rights violations, they did not intervene to stop or arrest agents who attacked protesters in Hartford, and we do not believe they can be relied on for our safety in future instances of ICE retaliation.”
Hartford Police said they were not aware of the altercation until afterward and Mayor Arunan Arulampalam has ordered an investigation, promising criminal prosecution if wrongdoing is established.
PC Magazine this week advised rally-goers to turn off their phones to prevent federal agents from secretly building a database of protestors’ identities. Nonviolent Peaceforce International, a Swiss organization promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts, put out a set of suggestions for avoiding violence in ICE encounters, while Wired Magazine ran an article this month entitled “What to Do if ICE Invades Your Neighborhood.”