Anti-ICE protest draws in crowd in Metter
METTER, Ga. (WTOC) – Both anti-ICE and counter protesters gathered in a park in the small town of Metter Friday.
National headlines of anti-ICE protests across the country have inspired lots of local communities across our region. Including, the young protesters in downtown Metter out on the sidewalks protesting against ICE in their local communities.
“I feel like God called me to do this so,” said Abigail McDaniel.
Abigail McDaniel took to Facebook to spread the word of the protest to others.
She then coordinated with Metter Police Chief to plan a protest that would be peaceful and safe.
“I organized this because politics aside, it’s so important that we come together as a community and fight for everyone’s rights to be treated as a human,” said McDaniel. “Its’s really inhumane to see people being put in zip ties and being ripped away from their families so I’m really passionate about this.”.
A small crowd gathered with her at first, and then more kept coming.
Counter protesters like James McNeely showed up too.
” If they don’t want to go back to Mexico, they should be flying an American flag in my opinion,” said McNeely.
Both sides of them tell me even though Metter is a small town, these national headlines about ICE hit home…just in different ways.
“People have been burning the American flag and spitting on it like they are doing in these bigger cities. So, I’ve come here to make sure nothing like that is happening,” said McNeely.
“Honestly, it’s scaring the mess out of all of us. Including people like me who are born in the states,” said an anti-ICE protester who asked not to be named.
Some of the anti-ICE protesters tell WTOC that even though they may be legal immigrants they are still scared.
Especially following multiple arrests made by ICE in neighboring Bulloch County last week.
“When I went to work in all this mess, I still got backlash from a lot of people. A lot of mean comments. I didn’t bother with it buts is pretty bold for most people to say that nowadays when we all live in the same country, “said protester.
