Juneau activists ask Murkowski to take action against ICE

The local activist group Juneau for Democracy hosted a small pop-up street rally and discussion outside Senator Lisa Murkowski’s downtown office Wednesday afternoon to protest the Trump administration and encourage Senate staff to take a stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Ben Muse helped organize the event, acting as a liaison between attendees and Kara Hollatz, the regional director of Murkowski’s office. Members of the media weren’t allowed inside the office during the 15 minute-long gathering.

“It felt very jolly for the circumstances,” Eleanor Burgess, who attended the rally, said of the discussion between Hollatz and attendees. “I do feel like there should’ve been a little more weight and heaviness in the room.”

Communications director Joe Plesha said in a Feb. 5 text to the Empire that Sen. Murkowski’s offices are open to all Alaskans and said she “genuinely values and weighs what she hears from folks.”

“Senator Murkowski believes meaningful reforms are necessary for ICE officers operating in the field and supports congressional oversight of the agency,” Plesha said. “She has publicly stated that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and has called on President Trump to reevaluate her role in the Cabinet.”

After the discussion, the group of 10 gathered at the corner of Glacier and Willoughby avenues with homemade signs. Drivers honked and waved as they passed.

Alyssa Beckley, who attended the event with her two young daughters, said that in addition to feeling called to speak out against ICE, she feels like women’s rights are under attack by the Trump administration.

“My girls should have more rights and opportunity than I had growing up, and it feels like it’s going in the opposite direction,” Beckley said. “And we like our diverse neighbors — we believe in migration. It’s human nature. My girls want to grow up with their friends without living in fear of them being taken away.

Burgess said she’s attending protests to speak out against systemic violence.

“The cruelty of the administration is only a microcosm of the foundations of America,” she said. “There’s no other way but to stand here and to fight for our rights — and not just for our rights, but for the rights of every single person in this country, whether they’re here, quote, unquote, illegally or not. There’s no other choice but to come out and talk about it.”