Social Justice Corner: A South Side Rally or a Parade?

A South Side Rally or a Parade?

Submitted by Michael Quinlan

Passion was in the air as people chanted and waved signs

against ICE, protesting the recent 40 arrests and the agency’s presence in Milwaukee. Yet all along our marching route, crowds of immigrant families cheered and clapped. It felt less like a protest and more like a parade — a lively, family-oriented event bursting with joy and purpose.

The event kicked off around 6:30 PM on July 1 at Kosciuszko Park. Speakers from Forward Latino energized the crowd in both Spanish and English, speaking out against the harm caused by ICE. Around 7:00 PM, about 150 of us set off on our march through the South Side with signs held high. It was a remarkably diverse group—young and old, people with disabilities, and folks of Hispanic, Asian, and European descent. We marched in a loop from 8th to 13th Street before returning to the park.

Just being there made me feel like I was making a difference. I loved both sides of the experience: the passionate rally against ICE and the joyful parade celebrating the Hispanic community.