Blab Politics
Progressive Protesters in Pearl River Shift Focus to Recall Petition Amidst Immigration Enforcement Tensions
In early 2026, a quiet corner of St. Tammany Parish erupted into civil‑rights action when residents of Pearl River took to the streets to challenge the town’s 287(g) partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On January 28, a small group led by local activist Onyx Ayo‑LeBlanc assembled at a busy intersection and held up a sign that read “F— ICE.” Their demonstration, which included a provocative flip‑off to passing drivers, drew the attention of the Pearl River Police Department.
Police officers asked the protesters to cease the gesture and remove the sign. Three women were taken into custody and charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and simple obstruction of a highway of commerce, according to court filings. Ayo‑LeBlanc’s attorney, Buddy Spell, filed a motion to quash the charges, arguing that the protest was protected First Amendment activity. The motion succeeded, and the charges were dismissed on Monday.
A month later, on February 5, the same group returned to the intersection to stand in solidarity with the women who had been arrested and to voice their opposition to the 287(g) agreement. This time the law‑enforcement response was far more substantial. Officers from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Pearl River Police Department, and a special response unit from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections converged on the scene. A press secretary for the Department of Public Safety & Corrections noted that a sniper was positioned on a roof to “maintain a safe environment.” Although the protest ended without arrests, participants described the atmosphere as intimidating. “We knew there was going to be counter‑protesting,” said Ayo‑LeBlanc. “Some people were scared.” Lindsey Millington, a Slidell resident who helped organize the march, said the heavy police presence made the protest feel “over‑the‑top.”
After the February demonstration, the activists pivoted from ICE to a broader political goal: a recall petition against Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill. The effort, launched on May 4, 2026, gives supporters 180 days to collect 500,884 signatures. The petition is part of a wider campaign led by Louisiana Deserves Better, a coalition that frames the recall as a bipartisan issue. Millington has said, “The recall is important for the people to feel they have a voice, and it is also a bipartisan issue.”
On June 7, the group returned to Pearl River, not to protest ICE but to gather signatures for the recall petition. About 20 people, including Millington and Ayo‑LeBlanc, gathered at a park near town hall. The event was organized by Ayo‑LeBlanc, who had been certified as a volunteer by Louisiana Deserves Better. The signature drive was modest; the group collected a handful of signatures, which they described as a “big success” for Ayo‑LeBlanc. The gathering was briefly interrupted when a woman called the Pearl River Police Department to accuse the group of photographing children in the park. Officer Brown‑Robertson, who was on scene, said no one was charged.
Pearl River is a conservative town. In the 2024 election, 88 % of ballots cast in the town’s seven precincts went to Donald Trump. St. Tammany Parish as a whole voted 71 % for Trump, and the state of Louisiana voted 60 % for him. The recall petition is framed as a bipartisan issue, according to Millington.
The group’s activities mirror a growing wave of local activism across the region. Residents have organized to assist families affected by ICE operations, monitor council meetings, and build community support in a town that has historically been resistant to dissent.
The recall petition remains in progress. Louisiana’s Secretary of State office has confirmed receipt of the petition, and the state’s election officials will determine whether the signature threshold is met. No further arrests or legal actions have been reported in connection with the June 7 event. The current situation is that the recall petition is ongoing, the group has gathered some signatures, and the community remains engaged in local political issues. The next steps will depend on the number of signatures collected and the timeline set by state election officials.
Police officers asked the protesters to cease the gesture and remove the sign. Three women were taken into custody and charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and simple obstruction of a highway of commerce, according to court filings. Ayo‑LeBlanc’s attorney, Buddy Spell, filed a motion to quash the charges, arguing that the protest was protected First Amendment activity. The motion succeeded, and the charges were dismissed on Monday.
A month later, on February 5, the same group returned to the intersection to stand in solidarity with the women who had been arrested and to voice their opposition to the 287(g) agreement. This time the law‑enforcement response was far more substantial. Officers from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Pearl River Police Department, and a special response unit from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections converged on the scene. A press secretary for the Department of Public Safety & Corrections noted that a sniper was positioned on a roof to “maintain a safe environment.” Although the protest ended without arrests, participants described the atmosphere as intimidating. “We knew there was going to be counter‑protesting,” said Ayo‑LeBlanc. “Some people were scared.” Lindsey Millington, a Slidell resident who helped organize the march, said the heavy police presence made the protest feel “over‑the‑top.”
After the February demonstration, the activists pivoted from ICE to a broader political goal: a recall petition against Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill. The effort, launched on May 4, 2026, gives supporters 180 days to collect 500,884 signatures. The petition is part of a wider campaign led by Louisiana Deserves Better, a coalition that frames the recall as a bipartisan issue. Millington has said, “The recall is important for the people to feel they have a voice, and it is also a bipartisan issue.”
On June 7, the group returned to Pearl River, not to protest ICE but to gather signatures for the recall petition. About 20 people, including Millington and Ayo‑LeBlanc, gathered at a park near town hall. The event was organized by Ayo‑LeBlanc, who had been certified as a volunteer by Louisiana Deserves Better. The signature drive was modest; the group collected a handful of signatures, which they described as a “big success” for Ayo‑LeBlanc. The gathering was briefly interrupted when a woman called the Pearl River Police Department to accuse the group of photographing children in the park. Officer Brown‑Robertson, who was on scene, said no one was charged.
Pearl River is a conservative town. In the 2024 election, 88 % of ballots cast in the town’s seven precincts went to Donald Trump. St. Tammany Parish as a whole voted 71 % for Trump, and the state of Louisiana voted 60 % for him. The recall petition is framed as a bipartisan issue, according to Millington.
The group’s activities mirror a growing wave of local activism across the region. Residents have organized to assist families affected by ICE operations, monitor council meetings, and build community support in a town that has historically been resistant to dissent.
The recall petition remains in progress. Louisiana’s Secretary of State office has confirmed receipt of the petition, and the state’s election officials will determine whether the signature threshold is met. No further arrests or legal actions have been reported in connection with the June 7 event. The current situation is that the recall petition is ongoing, the group has gathered some signatures, and the community remains engaged in local political issues. The next steps will depend on the number of signatures collected and the timeline set by state election officials.
