Last Friday night, people in Frederick stood outside a neighbor’s home and linked arms as ICE agents refused to tell them if they had a warrant and moved in. This came after nearly two days of ICE camped out in their neighborhood, intimidating residents, threatening people who were watching them, and telling people they knew where they lived.
Then things turned violent.
ICE agents drove vehicles onto the sidewalk toward witnesses, threatened people with arrest, and eventually approached the home where protesters had linked arms. Agents began beating them. People were injured. People were screaming for help. Frederick Police officers were right there and watched it happen without stepping in to stop it.
We’ve since learned something else that makes the entire situation even more disturbing: ICE also refused to tell Frederick Police whether they even had a warrant. Frederick Police Chief Kevin Meyer said his department asked ICE about a warrant. The response from ICE, according to Meyer, was: “We’re not gonna discuss that with you.”
So ICE wouldn’t tell the local police department whether they had a warrant, proceeded toward the home anyway, and then beat people outside while Frederick Police stood by. Some of the people injured that night are now dealing with the aftermath, including significant medical bills and recovery costs.
These are people who showed up because their neighbors needed them, and now they need us.
Help the Protesters Beaten by ICE
A fundraiser has been set up to help cover medical bills and recovery costs for the community members injured that night. Any money raised beyond those costs will go toward helping local immigrant families in need.
Please give what you can and share the fundraiser.
Click here to help with the medical bills of Frederick protesters beaten by ICE
Help Local Families Impacted by ICE
There are also immigrant families in the community dealing with the fear, disruption, and financial consequences of ICE activity. Western Maryland Immigrant Rights Coalition is organizing mutual aid for people who need help.
Click here to support mutual aid for people impacted by ICE
You can drop them off at either of these locations:
Eliza’s House located at 35 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Hub City Brewery located at 25 W Church St, Hagerstown, MD 21740
We’re Donating 100% of Our Substack Revenue This Month to Both Causes
For the month of September, Hagerstown Rapid Response is donating 100% of the money we receive from paid Substack subscriptions to both of the causes above. The money will go to help cover the medical bills and recovery costs of the protesters beaten by ICE in Frederick and to support mutual aid for people and families impacted by ICE.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, this is a good month to do it. Your subscription will help support both of these causes while also helping us continue getting this information in front of as many people as possible.
If you have the ability to donate directly, please do. If money is tight, share these links instead. The people who showed up for their neighbors that night should not be left to deal with the physical and financial consequences of what ICE did to them on their own.
Fire Mayor Michael O'Connor and police chief Kevin Meyer. Their job is to protect us from thugs illegally kidnapping our neighbors. They are not doing their job.
What idiots.