'People are really angry' ICE protest brings dozens to Town Hall

Following the shooting of Renee Good by ICE officers in Minneapolis, protests have broken out across the country shouting claims of injustice, brutality and murder. Though over 1,000 miles away, Wareham community members showed up to air their grievances. 

Signs in hand and chants flowing down Marion Road, the usual Saturday morning protest organized by Wareham for Law and Democracy had a relevant theme Jan. 10. With signs like "melt ICE," the sidewalks in front of Town Hall echoed sentiments from the Midwest. 

Good, a 37-year-old United States citizen, was fatally shot by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE Wednesday, Jan. 7. Good was in her car during an ongoing ICE operation and was killed as she drove away. 

Sean McMills from Marion was one of many protesting against ICE. Although the death of Good is recent, he said his dislike for President Donald Trump and has been longstanding.

"I've always been upset at Trump and his polices, primarily against immigrants," McMills said. "So I'm always happy to join the crowd to get people to attempt to pay attention."

Recognizing the immigrant population in nearby cities like New Bedford, McMills said he is afraid of future ICE operations close to home. Raids began in late January 2025 and continue to be conducted in cities across the country.

According to the ICE website, the work being done is to enforce immigration law against those who "present a danger to our national security, are a threat to public safety, or who otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration system."

"I'm surprised they hadn't killed somebody sooner," McMills said. "I wish it would come to an end so we wouldn't have to worry about more deaths. The fact that it was a citizen doesn't make too much of a difference." 

Gathering in front of the Wareham Police Memorial were a group of counter protestors who stood with signs backing Trump and ICE. Cars passed by with honks of support, something Gerry Cardillo was proud to see. 

Cardillo called those who were against ICE "communists." 

Another member of the group who wanted to go by "Sue," said that ICE were just doing their jobs.

"They're a law enforcement agency, they're doing their jobs and they're getting the illegals who are causing problems out of this country," Sue said. 

Sue said she raised issue with those protesting against ICE and their use of the word "democracy." Citing article four section four of the constitution, she emphasized that the president had the authority to "execute decisions made by the people of the United States."  

"Each state has a republican form of government. Democracy is not even in the constitution. It's been made up for years," Sue said. "They keep throwing it around and they don't know what it means. That is not what America is. It's not a democracy, it's a republic."

Manfred Wiegandt is an immigration lawyer and is a member of Wareham for Law and Democracy. He said over 166 people showed up to protest, which is one of the biggest turnouts the group has seen aside from the No Kings Day protest last October. 

"Which is encouraging," Wiegandt said. "But it also shows how mad people are about what's going on."

Wiegandt compared ICE officers to those who participated in the January 6 insurrection and said the agents bring untrained brute force. He also brought up the strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean calling the deaths of Good and alleged traffickers "murder."

"It's the same with the mindset that tried to storm the capital. There is no legal recourse," he said. 

As for what's next in the aftermath of the shooting, Wiegandt said that the ICE officers have been "unleashed," and can "do whatever they want." According to him, the president does not care for anything and escalation from protests and immigration is imminent.

"He [Donald Trump] basically says, "I'm not bound by anything," so why should we respect him?" Wiegandt said. 

Wareham for Law and Democracy and the counter protestors have met in front of Town Hall every Saturday. Wiegandt said that the gatherings will not be going away any time soon.