Key facts
- Thousands of Americans are expected to protest this weekend on issues including ICE violence, voter suppression, and AI data center construction.
- Over 70 'ICE Out' rallies are planned to demand justice for individuals fatally shot by ICE agents.
- Voting rights groups are holding nearly 700 events to promote civic engagement and voting rights education.
- Conservative groups are protesting the expansion of AI data centers, citing concerns about corporate welfare and community impact.
- Grassroots efforts have already led to the delay or cancellation of at least 75 datacenter projects valued at over $130 billion.
Thousands of Americans are expected to participate in mass protests this weekend, focusing on issues including violence by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, voter suppression, and the construction of AI data centers. These demonstrations, organized by a mix of progressive and conservative groups, are seen as defining issues for the upcoming midterm elections.
More than 70 'ICE Out' rallies are scheduled nationwide on July 18, demanding justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, who were fatally shot by ICE agents. Organizers, including the Answer Coalition and 50501, aim to remove ICE from the streets and abolish the agency, citing community terrorization. Hunter Dunn of 50501 stated, "A lot of groups are signing on because we agree that ICE is terrorizing our communities, that we need to stop ICE terror, and to abolish ICE." Paul Ramirez of Valley Defense emphasized the fight for justice and accountability for officers involved.
In parallel, nearly 700 voting rights events are planned as part of the Good Trouble Lives On national weekend of action, honoring the legacy of John Lewis. These events, featuring teach-ins, voter registration drives, and community gatherings, aim to boost civic engagement ahead of the November midterms. Barbara Arnwine of the Transformative Justice Coalition highlighted the movement-building aspect, aiming to turn attendees into voting rights activists. Daryl Jones, a lawyer with the coalition, noted that recent Supreme Court rulings and proposed legislation like the Save America Act, which Donald Trump is pushing, have created a critical moment for voting rights, particularly for Black, brown, and Native American voters. Jones anticipates increased turnout due to voter suppression efforts and hopes to engage a quarter of a million people through education and registration.
The movement against data center construction has emerged as a bipartisan concern. According to Data Center Watch, grassroots groups have already delayed or canceled at least 75 data center projects worth over $130 billion in the first three months of the year. Humans First, a conservative advocacy group, is organizing over 100 protests in 40 states against the "unchecked expansion of datacenters," aiming to give a voice to grassroots Americans, especially conservatives, in the debate over AI data centers. Amy Kremer, chair of Humans First, stated that the issue "ignites anger among the conservative base" and criticized data centers for often benefiting from corporate welfare that Republicans claim to oppose.