opinion
ICE Protest or Open Mic Night? Austin’s Latest Dissent Gathering Draws Crowd, Eyeballs
Austin’s latest protest against ICE proves that yelling at the sky is still a viable form of activism—and the state is still ignoring it.
Published January 10, 2026 at 1:29am
Ah, the sweet symphony of dissent—where the air smells like patchouli and the faint aroma of corporate coffee from the gentrified café down the block. Last night, Austin’s finest anarchists, punk kids, and that one guy who still thinks it’s 1999 gathered at the Texas Capitol to yell at the sky about ICE. And by "yell at the sky," I mean demand justice for Renee Nicole Good, who was tragically killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Because nothing says "land of the free" like federal agents playing judge, jury, and executioner in residential neighborhoods.
Around 100 people showed up, which, let’s be real, is a decent turnout for a Friday night in Austin. That’s, like, half the population of a single high-rise condo built by some tech bro who thinks "affordable housing" means a $1,500 studio with "exposed brick." The crowd chanted the classic hit, "Immigrants are welcome here," which, if we’re being honest, is a bold statement in a state where the governor’s idea of border security is a floating wall of buoys with spikes.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is deploying more ICE agents than ever, because nothing solves systemic violence like doubling down on systemic violence. It’s like watching someone try to put out a fire by throwing gasoline on it and then blaming the match for being "too woke."
But hey, at least Austin’s protest scene is thriving. You’ve got your usual suspects: the punk with the "Abolish ICE" patch sewn onto their battle jacket (hand-stitched, of course), the white ally who just discovered what systemic racism is last week and is now leading chants, and the obligatory drum circle that shows up to every protest like it’s a Grateful Dead show.
In the end, the Texas Capitol glowed brightly—not from the light of justice, but from the floodlights the state probably installed to make sure no one tries to graffiti "ACAB" on the statues. Stay tuned for next week’s episode of "How Many Ways Can Greg Abbott Violate Human Rights Before Someone Notices?" Spoiler alert: the answer is infinity.
Keep fighting the good fight, y’all. Or at least keep yelling at the sky. It’s not like anyone in power is listening, but at least it’s cathartic.