Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Chicago Man Tells Don Lemon Why He Isn’t Buying What Anti-ICE Protesters Are Selling

Screenshot/YouTube/Don Lemon

A Chicago man told former CNN host Don Lemon during a Friday demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that he disagreed with the protesters’ actions and their stance.

The protest, which Lemon livestreamed on “The Don Lemon Show” on YouTube, took place amid a widespread crackdown on illegal immigration in Chicago and featured demonstrators shouting at unmarked vehicles as they passed. The man told Lemon that some of the protesters were hate-filled and engaged in “violence,” particularly against the vehicles.

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“I think that it’s inexcusable,” the man said. “I see people that are coming here that are showing violence, are showing hatred, intolerance, people that are blocking vehicles and damaging vehicles and throwing bottles at vehicles and throwing fireworks.”

Lemon paused the interview to show a van passing as screaming and whistle-blowing could be heard. He explained that the vans were suspected to be holding detainees and that the protesters were enraged.

“I don’t think you were here quite for this, but they had locked arms, the protesters, and they attempted to block traffic,” the man said. “And for no reason … So they gave you a right to free speech. They gave you a right to all that. But what you don’t have the right to do is to threaten violent acts. I’ve been here and I’ve seen death threats threatened on the ICE agents. I’ve seen people threaten to abduct them, kidnap them, hurt them, kill them, and that’s unacceptable.”

Lemon sought to clarify whether the man understood the protesters’ motivations despite opposing certain “tactics” they were employing.

“I understand why they’re protesting, but I also wouldn’t say I necessarily agree with all their message … not even just the tactics, just like the crux of the actual message of the protest itself,” the man said. “Because us as a country, we lock our doors to our cars, we lock our doors to our houses, we vet who comes into our house, we vet who comes into our car. We want to feel comfortable who comes in our house and our car because that’s our property.”

“It’s the same with our bank account information. We don’t just walk around, here’s my checking number, here’s my routing number and give anybody access to your bank account because it’s your property,” he continued. “You want to feel comfortable with who has access to your property. And it’s America’s property. And we should vet who comes into our country.”‘

The Operation Midway Blitz ICE crackdown launched in September and is sweeping across Illinois. Anti-ICE agitators — including Democrats running for Congress — have vehemently protested against the surge in enforcement operations, leading to physical altercations between demonstrators and agents.

Tensions increased on Saturday when Border Patrol agents attempting to conduct a patrol in a Chicago suburb were rammed by anti-ICE demonstrators and boxed in by ten vehicles, forcing immigration officers to fire defensively. It was subsequently revealed that Chicago police were ordered by their chief of patrol not to respond to Border Patrol agents’ call for assistance amid the chaos.