On Friday, Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m., a group of about 30 individuals convened in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium to protest the escalating actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. The event was preceded by another protest the previous week on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in what was called a “Free America Walkout.” This was part of a larger nationwide initiative led by the organizers of the Women’s March, which inspired Professor Sabine von Mering (WGS/CGES) to organize on campus. 

The protest was organized by Professor von Mering, who was arrested on Dec. 16 after attempting to bring care packages to an ICE detention center. At both protests, von Mering held signs challenging the federal government’s actions. “ICE out of MN,” “Keep ICE where it belongs” and “Fight ignorance not immigrants,” could all be read from her various signage. 

Professor von Mering shared that coordination for the Jan. 30 event was very last-minute, as information about the demonstration was shared less than 24 hours earlier. As a result, fewer people were in attendance than the Jan. 20 walkout which was held outside the Shapiro Campus Center.

Inside the atrium, attendees gathered in a circle and began by passing out firsthand accounts of Minnesota residents, which touched on the escalating tensions following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents. Following the readings, people were encouraged to speak and share their thoughts. Professor von Mering emphasized the importance of fostering connections between community members when organizing protests and demonstrations in this manner. She had embraced a similar message the week before, when she noted that the purpose of the walkout was to “come together and express all the frustrations we have with the current moment” as well as “not feel[ing] alone in this moment.” von Mering also passed out papers with a quick response code, where attendees could note their interest to participate in similar events in the future.    

Both demonstrations included opportunities for attendees to speak and share their thoughts. “Trump must go!” said Luke Farberman ’27, on Jan. 20. The crowd responded with rounds of applause. A week later, when asked why he wanted to participate, Hudson Ranney ’29 said in a Jan. 30 interview with The Justice, “I don’t want to tell my kids or grandkids I sat out and didn’t do anything while an authoritarian takeover was happening.” He concluded, “now is not the time to sit back.” 

ICE has come under fire nationally, especially following its escalation of operations, as well as the fatal Jan. 7 shooting of civilian Renee Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. As a result, protests have erupted across the country calling for the department to cease operations and greater protections for immigrants. On Jan. 23, thousands of people joined in the streets of Minnesota to protest ICE activity, and hundreds of businesses shut down in what Minnesotans called a “Day of Truth and Freedom.” Further outrage grew after ICE agents shot another civilian, Alex Pretti, in Minnesota on Jan. 24. 

The Jan. 20 event also included remarks from several faculty and staff members. Professor Irina Dubinina (RUS) spoke of her own experience being a Russian immigrant, and how the unfolding situation in the United States resembled similar events in her home country. “This is not a moment where we choose between right and left. This is a moment where we choose between right and wrong.” She was among multiple speakers who urged the group to look beyond politics and instead think about the greater implications for the country that this moment held.

Both events included suggestions to become trained on what to do if attendees see ICE, as well as learning their own rights should they interact with federal agents. During the Jan. 20 event, she also mentioned that the site of their gathering outside the Shapiro Campus Center was where a “horrible event took place in November 2023,” alluding to the arrests of seven people during a pro-Palestine protest. She later said she felt it was time for Brandeis to “start healing as a community” in light of the University’s recent history. 

The Jan. 30 event concluded as von Mering encouraged attendees to convene in small groups and brainstorm action plans, such as ways they can become involved on campus and how to support the movement in the greater Boston area. She acknowledged that going forward, the group would need to do a better job of planning and announcing these events ahead of time, and reinforced messages about getting familiar with one another and building a sense of community. 

In a Jan. 20 interview with The Justice, von Mering commented on the University’s policy on ICE agents on campus, which was most recently revised in July 2025. She felt the statement was strong but in terms of its efficacy, “you would have to ask students.” Professor von Mering said she felt it was important that police were educated about students being targeted by ICE. In terms of her own activism, when asked if she feels the University has been supportive of her work, she said she doesn’t believe “the University as an institution has a role,” though she has felt support from individuals at the school. 

Ultimately, both events were peaceful and well-attended, in spite of the frigid temperatures and last-minute planning. von Mering emphasized the event as an opportunity to find community among troubling times, while taking a stand for a cause she and others are passionate about. The demonstrations served as insight into some of the biggest issues facing the Brandeis community, as well as the country as a whole.