Category: News – Local

by Sarah McCall ’26 on February 5, 2026

Thousands Gather in Protest at RI State Capitol

On Friday, Jan. 30, thousands of people gathered at the Rhode Island State House for an ICE Out National Day of Action protest. The streets were filled with high school students, college students, families, Providence community members, and Rhode Island residents. Protesters had signs with phrases like “Abolish ICE,” “We Love Our Neighbors,” “Clear the snow and melt the ICE,” and “Students Demand Justice.” The signs ranged from cardboard boxes with sharpied words to well drawn political cartoons. Some protestors used old cereal boxes and buckets, and one little girl even assembled her sign with two pieces of construction paper and a large stick she found.

I had the opportunity to talk to her mother, who said that she took her daughter and son out of school that day to attend the protest. She explained her reasoning for bringing her young kids with her, saying that she always encourages them to fight for what is right and that she couldn’t sit back. When I asked why she felt it was important to show up, she said, “We are handing this world off to our kids, and we need to make sure it is a safe world for them.” She also told me that her son wore a Spiderman mask so that he could “feel like a hero.” Her daughter also felt like a hero, using the large stick to raise her sign above the crowd. It read “People are Dying” and “Stop Doing This,” with an angry face that she had drawn. These three protestors, along with thousands of others, marched through the city of Providence in hopes of making a change and uniting our community.

There was a significant student presence at the protest. Hundreds of high school and middle school students in Providence organized a walkout and met the protesters at the State House. The students chanted as they walked to the State House, emphasizing that life cannot go on as normal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents still on our streets. Many of their signs referenced the walkout, saying that they missed a lesson to teach others one and “Students Say ICE Out.”

There were volunteers walking around the protest providing information about different organizations. I had the opportunity to speak with Natalie, a volunteer with the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Line. She explained the program as a community effort to report ICE activity and keep ICE out of the area. With this Defense Line, community members can call (401) 675-1414 to report any unusual activity or potential ICE operations. This call will then be verified by the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Line before it is sent out to an ICE Watch Alert Channel WhatsApp. As I talked with Natalie, I asked why she thought it was important to be at the protest. She said, “We are the people who keep ourselves safe. We need to do our part as a community.” 

Instagram accounts like @pvdstudentunion, @dare.pvd, @amornetwork, and @pslrhodeisland consistently post about protests and ways to get involved locally.