Northern NJ Socialists Join Protests Against Opening of Delancey Hall

(From Jeff Hoey, Northern NJ Local) A group of immigrant’s rights activists gathered today at Delaney Hall, the newly opened ICE detention center in Newark. We had gotten news that a congressional delegation was at the site and trying to get in to inspect the facility. We wound up seeing Mayor Ras Baraka arrested, ostensibly for trespassing.

What stands out is the violence the ICE goons used in coming out of their fenced safety zone to make the arrest. Baraka was let out of the fence just seconds before and the goons closed the gate. We were moving towards Baraka and were around him, thinking he would be making a statement and instead, from behind us, the ICE agents re-opened the gate and rushed into our crowd to get Baraka. Everyone is fine but we were all grabbed and shoved out of the way violently and Li from Cosecha was briefly in a headlock. It was a very surreal moment but all too real to thousands of marginalized people.

Northern NJ Statement on the actions and arrests at Delaney Hall The Northern New Jersey Socialist Party stands in solidarity with migrant activists who have been fighting tirelessly to end the oppressive and traumatic ICE detentions and deportations. We acknowledge the wrongful arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center early today in Newark, NJ.

While we appreciate the attention for the cause that this high-profile arrest has created, it is important to remember that this is the Gestapo-like behavior that befalls undocumented and legal residents in our communities every day. We demand a systemic change to these draconian systems. We call for all ICE detention centers to be closed. We support the right of Mayor Baraka and the city of Newark to inspect all city properties and control permits. We strongly condemn the Trump administration for its campaign of intimidation and fascist tactics under its oppressive immigration policies and actions.