On May 8, 2025, a Brazilian grandmother was kidnapped on Eureka St. in broad daylight by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), aided by the Worcester Police Department (WPD). Her daughter, joined by her neighbors and a growing crowd, had attempted to stop the agents from taking her mother, to no avail. She, too, was arrested – after being chased down by officers, as reported by Julia Conley for Common Dreams.
One of the people out of that crowd was Etel Haxhiaj, a Worcester City Councilor who represents the very district where the incident occurred. The Worcester police allege that Haxhiaj had “assaulted” them during the incident. Haxhiaj says these charges are “retaliatory,” and seeks for them to be dismissed.
And dismissed they should be…