A hasty protest organized by the Anchorage branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation erupted Monday afternoon outside the Anchorage Correctional Complex, where 40 illegal immigrants are currently being detained ahead of deportation proceedings.
Roughly 60 protesters assembled in front of the facility, carrying signs with slogans such as “No Kings,” a rainbow umbrella with the numbers “86 47,” which is code calling for the assassination of President Trump, and waving a Mexican flag as they marched toward the secure loading entrance at the jail. They chanted, “No KKK, No fascist USA”
The demonstration was called with little notice, but quickly drew a law enforcement response, including officers from the Anchorage Police Department, correctional staff, and other uniformed personnel. Protesters were met with a firm show of force, as officers blocked access to jail property and prevented any breach of the secure area.
The detainees in question were flown into Alaska on Sunday and are being temporarily held at the state-run facility while federal immigration authorities process their deportation orders. Many of the demonstrators voiced opposition to what they described as inhumane deportation practices and accused authorities of other offenses.
Although no arrests were reported and the protest remained largely nonviolent, tensions were visible as officers formed a barrier between the protestors and the jail infrastructure. Chants and speeches lasted for an hour before the group dispersed.
This protest appears to be a preview of a larger coordinated action planned for this Saturday, under the banner of “No Kings” — a nationwide protest movement with a broad range of grievances, from immigration policy to criminal justice reform to opposition to what organizers describe as “authoritarian governance.”
The Department of Corrections did not issue a formal statement about the protest but it appears operations at the correctional complex were not interrupted.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation has not disclosed whether more spontaneous protests will occur in the days leading up to the national day of action on Saturday, when riots are expected across the Democrat Party strongholds.
