GPB reporters bring us to the scenes of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activites in Minneapolis and here at home. 

Demonstrators gathered in an Atlanta-area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway on Jan. 30, 2026, to condemn immigration-related arrests that locals confirm are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

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Demonstrators gathered in an Atlanta-area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway on Jan. 30, 2026, to condemn immigration-related arrests that locals confirm are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia in January 2026.

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A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia in January 2026.

Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News

Hundreds gather in downtown Macon to protest ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

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Hundreds gather in downtown Macon to protest ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Credit: Grant Blankenship/GPB News

People gathered in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway protest against ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

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People gathered in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway protest against ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

A crowd of hundreds listen to a speaker in downtown Macon, Ga., while protesting ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

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A crowd of hundreds listen to a speaker in downtown Macon, Ga., while protesting ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Credit: Grant Blankenship/GPB News

A police officer looks out from the rooftop of a store on Buford Highway as a demonstration against ICE activity takes place in an Atlanta area parking lot below on Jan. 30, 2026.

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A police officer looks out from the rooftop of a store on Buford Highway as a demonstration against ICE activity takes place in an Atlanta area parking lot below on Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia in late January 2026.

Caption

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia in late January 2026.

Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News

Hundreds of people march through downtown Macon, protesting ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Caption

Hundreds of people march through downtown Macon, protesting ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Credit: Grant Blankenship/GPB News

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

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A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News

Students demonstrate outside of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, to oppose ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

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Students demonstrate outside of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, to oppose ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

Caption

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News

Hundreds of people march through downtown Macon, protesting ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Caption

Hundreds of people march through downtown Macon, protesting ICE on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Credit: Grant Blankenship/GPB News

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia on Jan. 30, 2026.

Caption

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia on Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News

Locals across the street from a protest against ICE activity on Buford Highway record the Atlanta area demonstration. They confirm that immigration-related arrests are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

Caption

Locals across the street from a protest against ICE activity on Buford Highway record the Atlanta area demonstration. They confirm that immigration-related arrests are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia Jan. 30, 2026.

Caption

A demonstration against recent ICE activity takes place at the University of Georgia Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News

People gathered in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway protest against ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Caption

People gathered in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway protest against ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

Students demonstrate outside of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 to oppose ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Caption

Students demonstrate outside of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 to oppose ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

Customers eat inside and children play outside at the Pollo Campero restaurant on Buford Highway during an Atlanta area protest against ICE activity on Jan. 30, 2026.

Caption

Customers eat inside and children play outside at the Pollo Campero restaurant on Buford Highway during an Atlanta area protest against ICE activity on Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

A man plays a trombone in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway during a protest against ICE activity on on Jan. 30, 2026.

Caption

A man plays a trombone in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway during a protest against ICE activity on on Jan. 30, 2026.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

Demonstrators gathered in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway on Jan. 30, 2026 to condemn immigration-related arrests that locals confirm are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

Caption

Demonstrators gathered in an Atlanta area shopping center parking lot along Buford Highway on Jan. 30, 2026 to condemn immigration-related arrests that locals confirm are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

Parents support their students who demonstrated outside of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, to oppose ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Caption

Parents support their students who demonstrated outside of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, to oppose ICE activity in Minnesota and in Georgia.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

Last week saw a wave of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in Minneapolis and here in Georgia. GPB reporters were at some of the events. Here's what they saw and heard in Macon, Athens, Marietta and Atlanta.

In Macon, Lauren Bone was one of hundreds of people who marched through downtown protesting ICE. On Friday, she was at work at Macon Bakery, the bakery she owns with her husband, thinking, what next?

"Yeah, we're in Middle Georgia; we're not a major city," she said. "And a lot of people are like, 'Who cares?'"

But she pushes back against that apathy.

"It is just about just saying that we're here for each other," she said.

In Athens, a campus walkout organized by left-leaning political groups brought together about 400 students outside the main student center, including Jess Cook.

"I have to show my face in public to stand up for people who are no longer safe to do the same," Cook said.

Marietta, Ga., saw a similar but far smaller protest: Six students walked out of Wheeler High School as part of a statewide protest by high school students. Junior Ariana Wilson said she felt she needed to take a stand against what she calls injustice, even as her school district warned parents and students like her that there would be disciplinary action for walking out of the classroom. 

Credit: GPB News

"I told my parents about this and my dad, he gave me this long speech telling me just do what you feel is right," she said. "Do what your heart's telling you to do.

By 6 p.m. Friday, almost 300 people had gathered in a shopping center parking lot along metro Atlanta's Buford Highway, a thoroughfare of international markets and restaurants. Protesters condemned immigration-related arrests that locals just across the street from the protest confirmed are happening frequently in their neighborhoods and workplaces.

"This is a Hispanic-dominated area," said Aranza Saldana. "Everyone fears for their lives, yes."