In January, the murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, added fuel to the fire of anti-ICE movements throughout the country. In Carlisle, despite the freezing temperatures, this anti-ICE sentiment has manifested in the form of weekly protests called “Freedom Fridays.”
The protests, organized by Cumberland Valley Rising (CVR), take place in the town square, located at the intersection between Hanover and High Streets from 4-5 p.m. on Fridays and are attended by many members of the Dickinson College and Carlisle communities.
CVR is a “non-partisan, grassroots organization that believes in freedom and equal rights for all,” according to the organization’s website. CVR aims to help citizens engage in their communities and support activism for marginalized groups. The CVR provides training to volunteers to ensure that protesters are safe and are abiding by all laws and ordinances.
Additionally, the international organization, Food Not Bombs, which operates a local chapter in Carlisle, is another essential supporter of these demonstrations. Food Not Bombs participates in Freedom Fridays by providing protesters with hot chocolate, coffee and food items. The organization also organizes free meal programs for the unhoused population in Carlisle, along with several other community-oriented efforts.
Dickinson students make up a large percentage of the attendees, with many students attending together in groups and encouraging their peers to attend the protests.
Parker Lengle ’28 said, “I heard about the protests from my Dickinson friends. I decided to join them because of the importance of public demonstration as students.”
Ezra Soncrant ’26 also said, “It is very important for students to be here; it is important for everyone to be here because we are a part of the generation that will inherit what happens next.”
Dickinson students who have chosen to remain anonymous shared that they “wanted to stand in solidarity with immigrants and the people of Minneapolis as they resist ICE agents terrorizing their city.”
Students shared that they “do feel pretty safe…there are members of both the Dickinson and Carlisle communities as well as incredible volunteers to help keep people safe…there’s a great feeling of community solidarity.”
ManyDickinson students protest because of their identity as a student. A member of the class of 2026 said,“I feel it is my responsibility as a student. Especially one from Dickinson College, with its ties to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, to participate in bettering the community for others and ensuring they are granted the same inalienable rights as I am.” Students have also expressed how meaningful it is for them when their professors show up to support the cause.
These weekly protests have become a pillar of the anti-ICE sentiments in the Dickinson and wider Carlisle community.
