Providence Mayor Brett Smiley signs Executive Order prohibiting the use of city property for civil immigration enforcement activities by Steve Ahlquist
“In signing the Executive Order, Mayor Smiley has seemingly satisfied all four demands of the Providence General Assembly. These demands were modeled after Chicago Executive Order No. 2025-8, signed on October 6, 2025, in response to increased ICE activity in that city.
1. No ICE on City Property!
We demand that the City prohibit ICE, or other “immigration enforcement agents,” from using any City property, including properties the City has leased out, as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for immigration enforcement.
2. No City Collaboration with ICE!
We demand that the City reiterate and ENFORCE the written policy of City agencies collaborating with ICE, or other “immigration enforcement” agents, in any way. This includes the Providence Police Department (PPD), Providence Public Schools, libraries, and other entities. The PPD and the City have blatantly violated this directive in the past.
3. Act Now!
We demand that the City create and implement a plan to enforce this policy. City Departments and Agencies should collaborate to identify all City-owned properties and post signage prohibiting ICE or other “immigration enforcement” agents from using them.
4. ICE OUT of Our Communities!
We demand that the City design and print standardized signage that private landowners and leaseholders can display to delineate the non-public areas of their property where they wish to restrict activities related to ICE and other civil immigration enforcement.
Join the Providence General Assembly outside the Providence City Hall on Thursday, January 22, at 5 pm to make your voice heard and demand that the Providence City Council take steps to limit ICE’s brutality.”
Rally calls for an end to Providence Police working with ICE and attacks on the unhoused by Steve Ahlquist
“There’s one thing that unites us as poor people: We are at the mercy of the police,” said Mike Araujo. “We’re at the mercy of landlords. We’re at the mercy of our bosses…” Read on Substack
Grassroots Assemblies Empower People to Fight Back Against Trump’s Agenda by Ella Fassler, Truthout
“Walking through Providence, Rhode Island, it’s hard to miss the flyers posted on storefronts, bulletin boards, and lamp posts rallying passersby with a defiant call to action: Let’s Fight Trump’s Fascism! Defend Our Communities! Build a Better World! Come to the Providence General Assembly.”
Oped: No Kings, No False Saviors by Mike King
“Is sitting back and rooting for Democrats all we can do?” Read on Substack
2000 people march through Providence in protest of Trump Administration as part of a nationwide 50501 action by Steve Ahlquist
“The Providence General Assembly is an independent political project geared towards confronting fascism and building a free society through grassroots organizing,” said Mike King from the Providence General Assembly, which works on diverse issues such as immigrant solidarity, trans defense, defense of women’s bodily autonomy, mutual aid efforts, tenant and workplace organizing, anti-imperialist organizing, and organizing that addresses the unhoused crisis in Providence.
“All too often we put our faith in representatives that don’t represent, we put trust in half-measures that leave us two steps behind, we put faith in systems that were never built to serve us, we shrug off our ability to make change, we stay in our comfort zones, watch the world get darker, and let that darkness cast a shadow over our sense of political agency,” said King. “That’s why it’s important that we’re all here to say ‘No’ to the things we won’t stand for.” Read on Substack
The Providence General Assembly marches and speaks out to “refuse and resist Trump’s fascist agenda” by Steve Ahlquist
“We are here to say that we are going to protect our communities, and we’re going to do everything in our power to organize and defend our democratic rights.” Read on Substack