F-bombs at KC Plaza ICE protest spoiled our peaceful message | Opinion

I attended a protest at Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza on Jan. 10. It was organized by a coalition of groups as a part of a nationwide day of action in response to the shooting death of Renee Good in an altercation with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis the previous week.

I wanted to be supportive. I do not like what I am observing and hearing in the United States right now. I’ve done my study of history. I know what I’m seeing. It’s vile. It’s dehumanizing.

As I approached the gathering, one of the first signs that was readable to me from a distance declared, “F*** ICE.” As I began to mingle into what was observed to be a growing crowd of participants, I viewed a couple of other signs with the same message. That said, much of the signage that I encountered struck me as reasonable, meaningful, focused.

I approached one of the people with a “F*** ICE” sign, And I shared my sense that their presence at the rally was what was most helpful, but the sign was not. I was not well received.

Shortly thereafter, I heard an announcement of the official start of the rally. A speaker introduced themselves and informed the crowd that there were representatives at tables set up around the park that would be available to field questions and concerns, and to provide information. The speaker then introduced the person they said would be responsible for safe execution of the rally, stating that they wanted this to be a nonviolent gathering. The first words out of that person’s mouth, through a bullhorn, were “F*** ICE!” The crowd responded loudly, “F*** ICE!“ This exchange was repeated three or four times with increasing fervor.

I proceeded to one of the tables the rally leader had mentioned, and I expressed that I thought our physical presence was the clearest message. I was supportive of the event and its focus, but I did not believe that the profane “F**** ICE” messaging was favorable to our efforts. The person leaned forward to me over the table and yelled, “She was shot in the face three times!” I responded that I was aware of that. The person that I engaged, and another at the table, waved me off stating that they were wanting to listen to the speaker.

At that point, I departed the rally. I would not support such messaging.

Out of my alarm at the nature of the responses to ICE incursions that I’d been privy to through news and social media from around the country, I had posted a statement to Facebook earlier in the day:

“Remember! When we go to the streets in opposition to ICE activities, do it nonviolently. There will be rabble-rousers in the crowds who will be stirring us to act otherwise. They are wanting chaos. Let’s not give it to them. Let’s not let anger win. Make mourning, peacemaking and mercy our orders for the day.”

I came away from this Plaza protest feeling just as disturbed. In this event, I detected the same vile, dehumanizing nature — that one that was being called out in ICE agents — in its own convention. This was the pot calling the kettle black. Where does it end?

It was further confirmation for me that the log is intractably lodged in the eye of a vast segment of the U.S. populace — right and left — and that our reckoning is close, at our threshold. All I was left with was compassion and a request of our father that he show mercy, remembering Jesus saying to him from the cross, as told in Luke 23:34: “They do not know what they are doing.”

Martin J. Dressman is a retired social worker. He lives in Prairie Village.

This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 5:05 AM.