anti-ice protest held in downtown montreal 'in solidarity with minneapolis'
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nearly 200 people gathered in front of the united states consulate general in downtown montreal on sunday afternoon to oppose the actions of u.s immigration and customs enforcement (ice).
the event was organized by montrealer michael lipset, in collaboration with the immigrant workers centre and indivisible québec. protesters gathered in front of the consulate offices at 1134 ste-catherine st. w. and, from there, walked across peel st. to the northwestern corner of dorchester square.
tensions and conflict involving federal immigration enforcement in the u.s. have been escalating since the start of u.s. president donald trump’s second term. two fatal shootings in january in minneapolis involving ice agents — that of renée good, a 37-year-old mother of three, on jan. 7 and of alex pretti, an intensive care nurse with the u.s. department of veterans affairs, on jan. 24 — have sparked widespread protests.
“we’re showing up in montreal in solidarity with minneapolis resistance and in opposition to ice violence and the broader machinery of state repression,” said the facebook post about sunday’s event.
“this is a peaceful, lawful demonstration. we’re here to stand firm, not to harm.”
a number of demonstrators carried placards bearing such messages as “ice out,” “status for all” and “fascism does not belong anywhere.”
protest organizer michael lipset speaks to anti-ice demonstrators at dorchester square in montreal on sunday february 1, 2026. the event was held to protest the actions of u.s. immigration and customs enforcement in minneapolis and elsewhere.
dave sidaway
/
montreal gazette
lipset, a 38-year-old education professional who holds a phd from mcgill university in education studies with a focus on culturally sustaining school change, was born in minneapolis and lived there for 27 years. “my whole family is still there,” he said.
“i felt i wanted to get involved locally in order to make sure there was a response to the trump violence,” he said. “who better than someone from minnesota?”
good was killed near the site at which george floyd was killed by a minneapolis police officer in 2020, lipset said — and only a mile or two from where lipset himself lived in minneapolis. he knows the area well and has parked near the spot where pretti was killed, he said.
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another purpose of sunday’s protest, which featured addresses by organizers, was to speak out against canadian involvement in ice-related violence.
“we also know there are quebec companies who are complicit by taking ice contracts and sending tools to ice officers,” lipset said. ice has contracted with canadian defence manufacturer roshel defence solutions to purchase armed vehicles intended for use by ice, for instance.
a vote in parliament on bill c-233, to close loopholes in arms export laws that allow shipping through the u.s., is expected at the end of february.
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