Pa. protest: ‘I won’t let you disappear my neighbors!’

Militant/Ruth Robinett

READING, Pa. — Carrying signs saying “I will not let you disappear my neighbors,” “No 287g,” and “If you come for immigrants I will stand in your way!” some 250 supporters of immigrant rights demonstrated here March 18, at the Berks County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Eric Weaknecht says he wants to assign his force to collaborate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help catch and detain undocumented workers. ICE’s 287(g) program authorizes extending the agency’s powers to local cops. This would be the first time the program would be implemented in Pennsylvania.

The protest was sponsored by Make the Road Pennsylvania. “What the sheriff is proposing could terrorize thousands and thousands of residents of Berks County,” Adanjesus Marin, Make the Road’s director, told protesters.

— JANET POST