Worcester City Hall closed to the public early Tuesday ahead of a planned protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Dozens of people protested at the same time as a City Council meeting was held virtually inside.

Outside of Worcester City Hall Tuesday evening, nearly 100 people rallied against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their recent arrest in Worcester. The protesters gathered on Worcester Common at 5:30 p.

As public anger in Worcester boils over the controversial arrests of a woman and her teen daughter last week, City Hall will close early on Tuesday and a City Council meeting will be held on Zoom. The decision was made “Due [to] public safety concerns, out of an abundance of caution,” Tom Matthews, Worcester city spokesperson, said in a statement.