Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Milan’s Piazza Leonardo da Vinci on Friday to voice their opposition to Ice agents attending the Winter Olympics.The protesters, predominantly students, brandished placards bearing the slogan “Ice out” as they assembled just hours ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony.This evening’s festivities at San Siro Stadium will feature US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance, with performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli.Friday’s demonstration follows similar action last Saturday in Piazza XXV Aprile, a location commemorating Italy’s 1945 liberation from Nazi fascism.
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Beyond concerns about American immigration enforcement, protesters have criticised city closures for what they consider an unsustainable event amid ongoing housing affordability problems and diminishing community spaces.British-American freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, competing for Team GB at these Games, has been outspoken in his criticism of the immigration enforcement agency.The Essex-born athlete, who also works as a model and actor, shared “F*** Ice” on his Instagram account on Thursday, urging followers to contact their senators regarding what he described as Ice’s “unchecked power” since Donald Trump’s return to office.Last week, Kenworthy posted: “I’ve been waiting to say this in any interview but just f*** Ice so hard right now. F*** Ice.”Team GB are understood to be unconcerned by the remarks, viewing them as personal opinions on matters unrelated to the Olympic Games and not involving the British team.The 2014 Sochi silver medallist, who switched allegiance from the United States in 2019, is not scheduled to compete until February 19.Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala has declared that Ice agents are not welcome in the city.Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi addressed parliament to clarify that only personnel from Ice’s Homeland Security Investigations division would be present in Milan.LATEST SPORT NEWSGenitals injections spark cheating row at Winter Olympics after investigation launchedEddie the Eagle opens up on flying, failure and being Britain’s most unlikely Olympian’Russian cyberattacks’ targeting Winter Olympic Games foiled by Italian authoritiesPiantedosi said: “The presence of personnel linked to the ICE agency is not a sudden or unilateral attempt to restrict our national sovereignty. “It is the implementation of a binding international agreement, fully compliant with our constitution and parliamentary prerogatives.”Italian authorities have emphasised that American personnel will not carry out any policing duties on Italian streets.The US State Department confirmed last week that multiple federal agencies, including Ice, would assist in protecting American visitors to the Games.Nicole Deal, the US Olympic security officer, has clarified that no Ice agents form part of the Team USA Olympic delegation.Kenworthy has a history of speaking out on political matters at major sporting events, having raised human rights concerns during the Beijing Games, where he placed eighth.The International Olympic Committee expressed last week that it was “distracting and sad” that political issues had overshadowed preparations for the Winter Olympics.Rule 50 of the Olympic charter aims to safeguard sporting neutrality, stating that “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas”.Ice arrests have increased significantly since President Trump returned to power last year as his administration looks to solve illegal migration issues into the US.The deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during protests against the agency in January have sparked widespread condemnation and heightened scrutiny over recent weeks.Our Standards:
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