In the spirit of May Day’s “No Work, No School, No Shopping,” De-ICE Hanscom held a May Day Potluck Picnic before the standout on May 1. Instead of buying anything that day, we pooled what we already had to create a communal feast. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed recharging our bodies and spirits with fellow activists.
50 protesters left from Concord, MA at 6:15 AM to join the rally of the annual shareholder’s meeting of Citizen’s Bank in Providence, RI. We were there to ell the shareholders of Citizen’s bank to compel Citizen’s to stop bankrolling ICE’s mass deportation warehouses. Several activist-shareholders spoke about Citizen’s roll in enabling the expansion of these facilities that many liken to concentration camps. The crowd of 300 booed, chanted and yelled “Shame” as shareholders arrived for the annual meeting. Speakers from AFT Teacher’s Union, GBIO, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and the Brown University union are demanding a meeting with executives within 1 week. Otherwise they will divest several millions dollars from Citizen’s
We have been standing out at this entrance to Hanscom Airfileld since October, 2025. We are shining a light on the activities of ICE and this airport as part of Trump’s deportation devastation
De-ICE Hanscom is:
Lexington alarm
Maynard Indivisible
Indivisible acton
GAIN
Concord indivisible
LAB
350 Mass
Boston workers circle
Lincoln witness
JALSA – Jewish Alliance Law and social action
The Hub: Julie detailed the importance of Hanscom to Trump’s deportation agenda
THE HUB
The Guardian
On Monday, the Guardian reported that 40 house democrats have demanded that the FAA address allegations of mistreatment and inhumane conditions on ICE charter flights. They categorized the lack of transparency as dangerous and inappropriate efforts to shield these flights from the public! We’ve known that for months -glad the house is finally catching up. The 3-page letter presented by the reps cites the illegal detainment of immigrants from family and council, shielding these flights, so that family and council cannot locate them
The lawmakers are asking the FAA to provide a detailed report of ALL ICE AIR OPERATIONS since Trump took office
Additionally, since ICE continues to assert that detainees are being kept in humane conditions, the letter calls on the FAA to provide information on how they assess humane conditions: Is transporting people in full body restraints humane?
We have known for moths that ICE’s actions have nothing to do with national safety. Over 80% of detainees have no criminal record
We have known for moths that ICE is acting outside the law.
Pick up a lawn sign any Friday as well as at other ICE-related actions. Only $10
Today we heard about Cambodian refugees in Lowell, who are having flashbacks to the reign of terror of the Pol Pot regime of the 1970’s, when thousands disappeared. Here in Lowell, MA family and friends are once again being “disappeared”
Finally some good news to report:
Thank you for joining us today on May1 – INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY! NO WORK NO BUSINESS AS USUAL
International workers day is observed throughout the world…but not here! Instead, here in the US workers in our communities are criminalized by U.S. immigration policies that make it a crime to live and work. The U.S. government tears families apart using massive deportations as a policy of state terror intended to strike fear in our hearts.
May Day, as a celebration of workers’ rights and unity began in On May 1, 1886, when workers took to the streets in a general strike throughout the entire country to force the ruling class to recognize the eight-hour work day. Over 350,000 workers across the country directly participated in the general strike, with hundreds of thousands of workers joining the marches as best they could. Their siimple request – an 8-hour work day and less than 7 day work week.
On May 1st we honor the power of the people united to overcome the evils that arise from A corrupt and amoral administration and the vile greed corporate robber barons.
We standing here are bearing witness to the deportation arm of this corrupt and amoral armed force that has united with the greed of robber barons to destroy the lives of immigrants who have come to the US for a better life.
We continue to show our determination to stop ICE flights from passing through Hanscom airfield, and everywhere in the nation. ICE’s reign of terror is un-American and not what the Minutemen fought for over 250 years ago
Thank you for being here today at Hanscom Field. This is our 6th month standing at this entrance
When we started, few people knew that this airfield was the primary tool for whisking immigrants snatched off our streets, to be sent far from family and legal counse n
Now many, many people know – we have attracted news media, including the Boston Globe, the Lincoln Squirrel, and elected officials – we need more – more pressure on Massport more letters to the governor more involvement from our legislators
We must continue to press our state senators to pass the Protect Act
Yesterday 300 people gathered outside the Citizen’s bank shareholders meeting in Providence. Raise your hand if you were there…. Several of our activists are shareholders, and spoke about their concerns about these concentration camps that Citizens is bankrolling
In out-George Orwelling George Orwell, Citizen’s financial accounting assesses earnings potential of the growing number of “particiapants” in these facilities. Participants? Do you think the immigrants snatched up by ICE and warehoused are participants?
GEO and CORE Operate 90 prisions incarcerting over 90,000 people.
The coalition of AFT, Interfaith groups and Brown U union will divest over $10 million dolllars of combined investments if Citizen’s does not respond to our demands within a week!
protesters lined the area around the Hanscom rotary to continue bringing attention to the airport’s role in Trumps’ growing deportation campaign. Protest songs played, we yelled “Shame” as ICE vans exited the airport, and we waved and were grateful for the many honks of support we received from passing motorists
Update on ICE activity
It is clear that these actions have nothing to do with national safety. Over 80% of detainees have no criminal record It is clear ICE is acting outside the law,
A little rain didn’t deter us today. We stood out in the cool air and got shout outs from passing cars! But the gravity of why we are here never leaves us – ICE continues its raids throughout Massachusetts and the nation. We are proud to be part of the growing resistance to their cruelty and lawlessness!
We are here to make it clear to ICE and Massport that we do not condone ICE’s actions. We have opposed ICE on our streets where they are snatching up our neighbors, we have opposed ICE at their field stations and prisons where they are keeping our neighbors in atrocious conditions, and we oppose ICE here where they are taking our neighbors to points unknown, out of contact of legal counsel and family support
We are here standing out on a rotary in front of Hanscom Air Field because we know that it is from here that many illegal deportations occur.
In fact, more than 6,000 deportations occurred from Hanscom Airfield in 2025, and all indications are there will be even more detainees being taken from Hanscom in 2026.
The actual boarding on planes has been hidden from us, but we know they are happening. Massport records show that there are at least 3 flights taking Immigrants from Hanscom each week. Prisoners are taken to detention center prisons in the south and, for some of them, to countries all over the world.
But, we can keep watch for the vans and buses that transport them. We also watch for the large fuel truck from Brown Bear that keeps the planes’ tanks full.
When we see vans, buses and fuel trucks, we yell to let them know we are watching and, in the hope, that some detainees in the vans might hear us.
They know we’re here. Let’s keep bearing witness and yelling to the top of our lungs!
Let’s do it until they De-Ice Hanscom!
Another successful standout. Signs show the reality that ICE activities are comparable to those of the SS in Nazi Germany
The clouds parted for us and we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine this week. 60 devoted activists were greeted by dozens of cars with their horns honking and drivers waving. Our newly refashioned member-curated playlist kept everyone’s spirits up.
Finally warmish weather and the last of the snow is gone.
Some of our newly outfitted marshals ready for some peaceful, non-violent action at Hanscom
The Lincoln Squirrel interviews the resistance Eagle
2 snowstorms dumping 3 feet of snow doesn’t deter us from standing up for our neighbors’ rights
Three feet of snow is no match for Jack and his trusty snow blower, or our intrepid Eagle!
It’s been a very tough week – we are witnessing an increasingly emboldened and terrifying ICE presence in our streets.
But whiile the violence perpetrated by ICE spreads, we maintain our resolve to resist in peaceful protest and in soliidarity with those terrorized by these masked ICE thugs
We stand in peaceful protest and witness as a community.
Time will show that we are on the right side of history
We stand in peaceful protest because we must:
IF NOT US – WHO? IF NOT NOW – WHEN?
Winter is setting in, but cold and a little snow don’t deter us from telling ICE that they are acting illegally, and we don’t like it!
We show our patriotism by standing up to ICE’s illegal actions with flags flying
Week 2 – fifty protesters stand out for due process, immigrants’ rights, and the rule of law
70 protesters came out to stand at the entrance to ICE’s New England deportation center at Hanscom Airfield. We will be here as long as ICE is flying our neighbors out of their communities through this airfield
After being chased out by an irate business owner, we parked safely along the road with the assistance of the Lincoln police, and carried on with our peaceful protest
De-ICE Hanscom 