Salisbury Protesters Rally Against National ICE Presence

Local groups organize demonstration near Bell Tower Green against immigration enforcement agency

Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:39pm

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More than 90 protesters gathered in Salisbury, North Carolina near the Bell Tower Green on Friday, January 30th to demonstrate against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the country. The protest was organized by local groups including Women for Community Justice, Salisbury Indivisible, and the Rowan County Democratic Party.

Why it matters

The protest coincided with a national strike encouraging people to disengage from commercial activity, with some local businesses shuttering for the day in response to ICE's actions. The demonstration reflects ongoing concerns in the community about the role of federal immigration enforcement and the desire of some residents to take a public stand against it.

The details

Protesters brought signs criticizing ICE, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and President Donald Trump. Materials were provided at the event to allow attendees to make additional protest signs. The demonstration lasted from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and drew a larger crowd than a previous protest on January 10th focused on advocating for peace.

  • The protest took place on Friday, January 30, 2026 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • A previous protest organized by the same groups occurred on January 10, 2026.

The players

Women for Community Justice

A local advocacy group that co-organized the protest against ICE's national presence.

Salisbury Indivisible

A local political activist group that co-organized the protest against ICE's national presence.

Rowan County Democratic Party

The county-level Democratic party organization that co-organized the protest against ICE's national presence.

Emily Ford

An active member of Salisbury Indivisible and Women for Community Justice who participated in the protest.

Karen South Jones

A first-time protester who attended the event against ICE's national presence.

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What they’re saying

“I'm here to protest ICE, I'm here to protest Kristi Noem and I'm here to call on Congress to do their job.”

— Emily Ford, Active member of Salisbury Indivisible and Women for Community Justice

“There's something to be said for sitting home in your own outrage, but there's also something to be said for standing up and finally saying 'I can't be quiet anymore.'”

— Karen South Jones, First-time protester

The takeaway

The protest in Salisbury reflects the ongoing tensions and activism around the role of federal immigration enforcement, with local groups organizing to voice their concerns about ICE's national presence and calling on elected officials to address these issues.