MOUNT VERNON — About 120 people protested Sunday in Mount Vernon’s Public Square against a recent federal law enforcement operation at Panchos Tacos.
The Knox Socialist League organized the protest from 1 to 3 p.m. through its Facebook page, opposing a Thursday operation by Homeland Security Investigations.
“We saw what happened [at Panchos Tacos] and we wanted to go ahead and just try to get as many people out in support as possible,” said KSL member and Mount Vernon resident James St. Clair.
Law enforcement was not present during Sunday’s protest, which saw people marching around the square, chanting and carrying signs.
According to Panchos Tacos’ Facebook page, the restaurant is closed until further notice.
There is little information known about what occurred during and after the operation, but the City of Mount Vernon released a statement regarding the events at the restaurant on Friday.
“The City of Mount Vernon is focused on supporting all of our citizens, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring due process. Our role is to maintain a safe and orderly community, and we believe that clear communication and cooperation between all levels of government, including federal agencies, is the best way to achieve that,” the city said.
“HSI has classified this matter as an ongoing criminal investigation. While the City of Mount Vernon will continue to seek further information, all media inquiries regarding the investigation should be directed to Homeland Security Investigations,” the city said.
Building owner Tim Carper said after the event Thursday that federal officials detained and removed several employees, which occurred before the restaurant opened. The status of those employees has not been publicly disclosed.
Initial reports regarding an incident at Panchos Tacos on Thursday originally indicated Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed and detained several employees.
On Friday, Mount Vernon city officials said they had learned the federal Homeland Security Investigations conducted the operation.
According to St. Clair, KSL is a “big tent socialist organization” made up of social democrats, democratic socialists, communists, anarchists and socialists.
KSL’s goal, according to St. Clair, is to “advocate for a more equal society.”
St. Clair added that folks were protesting “a little bit of both,” the both meaning the Panchos Tacos operation and ICE operations across the country.
While some protestors were KSL members, others said they were there as concerned citizens.
“We’re here protesting the mistreatment of our community, the harassment of people of color and the infringement on constitutional rights given to us by the United States,” said Julie Nolan, a Mount Vernon resident.
“I’m here protesting that we don’t need to be this extreme with our immigration policies. I agree with [former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. I’m not an extremist,” Mount Vernon resident Kayla Hughes said.
Hughes also said that “the community deserves to be whole without law enforcement being superseded.”
A letter to the sheriff circulated
While protestors took to the perimeter of the square, Fredericktown resident Austin Farrell passed around an open letter addressed to Knox County Sheriff Dan Weckesser.
The letter called for Weckesser to be more transparent about the operation at Panchos Tacos, posing three main questions to the sheriff for him to answer publicly.
“What exactly took place at Panchos Tacos? What contact or coordination did your office have with federal agents before, during and after the raid? What steps will you take to make sure that future operations in Knox County are lawful, transparent and respectful to our community?” Farrell read from the letter.
Farrell said he had “two full pages” worth of signatures on the letter.
Weckesser previously spoke with Knox Pages on Friday and said the Knox County Sheriff’s Office did not play a role in the removal or detention of any Panchos Tacos employees.
“My understanding was that they didn’t need anything from us, other than to potentially go out and pick up scooters or whatever. We ended up not doing that,” Weckesser said.
more coverage of the federal law enforcement action at panchos tacos
Check out the video and photos from the protest below. Video credit to Cheryl Splain and photos credit to Jack Slemenda and Splain.
