Musical rally held at city hall for Columbia man detained by ICE
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Dozens of local musicians gathered at city hall on Thursday to rally in support of a Columbia man who was detained by ICE agents after coming back to the U.S. from a trip to Europe.
Blue Note and Rose Music Hall's head of security, Owen Ramsingh, was detained at O'Hare Airport in Chicago in September, after he returned from visiting family in the Netherlands. He has since been moved to El Paso, Texas.
“Once I saw what happened in terms of his detainment with ICE, it broke my heart. And he is someone who has always been there for everyone in the Mid-Missouri music scene,” the rally’s organizer, Colin LaVaute, said. “I hired him myself to be the head of security. I know what a hard worker he is, and I know what a good person he is.”
The rally began at 5 p.m. with a variety of instruments, including guitars, trombones, saxophones and harmonicas. Rally goers played "Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young on repeat for one hour as other demonstrators held up signs in support of Ramsingh. Nearly 50 people stood in front of city hall on Thursday afternoon, with roughly half being participating musicians.
“It's kind of the epitome of an American protest song,” LaVaute said when asked about the song choice. “At the end of the day, I think regardless of whatever your status may be, we like to think that we're living in the land of the free.”
Organizers asked rallygoers not to use antagonistic messaging toward ICE, as it could potentially harm Ramsingh's case. However, several anti-ICE signs were spotted at the protest.
LaVaute said he wasn’t sure how many people would show up, but was thrilled by the turnout for a rally he says was all about raising awareness.
“This isn't just a story about what's happening in Mid-Missouri. This is happening all over the United States. You're seeing it in Chicago, you're seeing it in L.A., and you're seeing it right here in Columbia, Missouri. Productive citizens are being taken off the streets, and it hurts our community when that happens,” LaVaute said.
Ramsingh’s best friend, Robert Olson -- who went on the trip to Europe with Ramsingh before he was detained -- was in attendance, alongside Ramsingh’s family, who were selling “Bring Owen Home Shirts.”
Ramsingh has lived in the U.S. since moving here as a child and was issued a green card as a child of a U.S. Citizen in 1986. According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, he was detained because of past convictions for possession of marijuana and cocaine.
Court records obtained by ABC 17 News show Ramsingh was charged with drug possession in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1998 when he was 17. He pleaded guilty the next year to attempting to commit a felony.
The following year, records show he was cited for having fewer than an ounce of marijuana in Nebraska and fined $100. He is now being held in an ICE detention center in El Paso, Texas. Olson said the family has been in contact daily.
“I wish I had something positive to report there. But the conditions in this tent city, man, it's not good conditions for any human,” Olson said. “He's trying to remain positive. He's motivating, other people in the pod, getting in to help clean and just take care of day-to-day chores up there. But it's gut-wrenching and heartbreaking to hear what he’s dealing with.”
Olson added that the family has received nearly 100 letters of support for Ramsingh as they work to bring him home.
“We know what he means to this community, and we know how many people love him here in town. So it's no surprise to us,” Olson said. “I can't wait to show him all these videos when we get him home.”
Ramsingh was originally given a court date of Oct. 15, but the family claims attorneys later told them that date was a “gingerbread date.” They’re still waiting for an official update on when he’ll appear in court.
