Activists say police blocking protesters near Delaney Hall in Newark
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- State police are now the gatekeepers at the intersection of Doremus Avenue and Wilson Avenue, about a half a mile away from Delaney Hall.
Activists say they are not being allowed past that point and that their right to protest outside the hall is being violated.
"They're lying to us, they're beating peaceful protestors at night and then lying about it the next day. I don't know what else to do," a protester said.
"The brutality keeps people away. It's already working. ICE must be delighted at the job the New Jersey State Police are doing to keep protesters far, far away from Delaney Hall," another protester said.
Over the weekend, even with Gov. Mikie Sherrill's efforts to provide safe protest zones near Delaney Hall, skirmishes broke out.
Anti-ICE protestors, pro-ICE protesters, all clashed with state and Newark police trying to maintain order.
"As the situation intensified, additional support was needed. Because of their good, fast work, arrests were limited to three people," Gov. Sherrill said. "Let me be clear: violent, chaotic clashes hurt everyone."
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who tried to keep the detention shuttered even before it was reopened, finally declared a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
One activist named John that Eyewitness News spoke to said he will continue to protest undeterred at the corner of Doremus and Wilson.
"This is not the America I grew up in. So, anything I can do to try to turn things around I'm doing, and I can't sit by idly," he said.
The protests began a week earlier after immigrant advocates said detainees inside launched a hunger strike over alleged poor living conditions.
Demonstrators have been attempting to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting, linking their arms in a human chain and using trash cans, umbrellas and other items as makeshift shields and barricades.
ICE officers wearing helmets and tactical vests have used pepper spray and batons to try to disperse the protesters and clear the roadway for vehicles.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche shared images online Friday of bloody wounds and bruises sustained by ICE officers.
"These riots are clearly not 'peaceful protests' as you can see from the photos of these horrific wounds," he said. "Assault a federal officer, you'll be held accountable."
The Trump administration denies all allegations of misconduct.
Delaney Hall is a privately run facility with 1,000 beds. There are about 300 detainees inside, and they have tablets to communicate with the outside.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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