Lakelanders are joining the call for Avelo Airlines to stop carrying out deportation flights for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A local group called Defund Obligarchy Blessed by Liberty has organized a rally at 5 p.m. May 31 at Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center Drive, to join the national Stop Avelo protests happening in about 26 cities this weekend. Organizers said they have at least 50 people who pledged to gather in front of the Starbucks and Harden/Town Center Drive bus stop at Lakeside Village.
“Avelo is a financially struggling company, poorly managed, poorly financed and by their own admission is taking the ICE contract in order to maintain their bottom line and to profit,” said Matthew Boulay, a spokesman for the Stop Avelo campaign, in a May 28 news conference. “It’s profit over people. It’s blood money. It’s shameful.”
Avelo’s contract with ICE
The ultra-low-cost carrier signed a deal with ICE in April to conduct deportation flights under a charter agreement. The flights have operated since May 12 using three Boeing 737-800 aircraft based at the Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, the USA TODAY reported…