Newark Imposes Curfew Near Delaney Hall After Violent Clashes at ICE Protests
Newark's mayor ordered a mandatory curfew around Delaney Hall after masked agitators attacked police, threw projectiles and set tyres alight. Six protesters were arrested, five from out of state.
Curfew Enforced Around Newark ICE Detention Centre After Protest Violence
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka has enacted a mandatory curfew in the immediate vicinity of Delaney Hall, an immigration detention centre in Newark, New Jersey, following violent clashes that erupted during protests on Saturday evening, fox5ny.com reports.
Officers from the Newark Police Department and New Jersey State Police were deployed to disperse crowds after what officials described as "aggressive actions" by a group of protesters. According to statements from Mayor Baraka, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a group of masked individuals breached designated protest zones, attacked police barricades and endangered both law enforcement officers and peaceful demonstrators.
The agitators charged at police, threw projectiles, used barriers as weapons and set tyres on fire in the street. Mayor Baraka confirmed that multiple individuals were arrested and found in possession of weapons during the unrest.
Six protesters were taken into custody overnight, officials said, including five described as "outside agitators" from other states.
The curfew, announced by Mayor Baraka on Sunday, is intended to "protect public safety." Those who violate it will initially be warned to leave the area; continued non-compliance will result in removal, summonses and potential further legal action.
Governor Sherrill said she did not understand the motivation of those responsible for the violence. "I do not know why these individuals attacked or what they wanted to accomplish, but I refuse to let these dangerous actions detract from New Jersey's dedication to ensuring public safety, keeping people safe from ICE, and that the people detained inside Delaney Hall are treated with dignity," Sherrill stated.
Sherrill has also called for Delaney Hall to be "closed down" amid the sustained demonstrations. State police drew protesters away from the building on Friday night, the governor said, to prevent a direct confrontation with ICE agents inside.
"We must focus on advocating for better conditions for the detainees, for their families, and ultimately, for the closure of Delaney Hall, as well as to protect the many peaceful protestors who continue to make this their mission," Sherrill said. "We simply cannot let ICE surge into our community."
Despite the violence, officials praised those who demonstrated peacefully, saying they helped "shine a light on the troubling conditions" at the facility. Attorney General Davenport emphasised the state's commitment to ensuring detainees are treated with humanity and decency.
Delaney Hall has been the focus of days of protests and counter-protests over the reported treatment of detainees and the broader presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the community. A hunger strike at the facility entered its ninth day as demonstrators continued to face off with Trump supporters outside the perimeter.
Law enforcement said it would maintain a secure perimeter around Delaney Hall while urging the public to de-escalate and return to peaceful protest.
Source: Google News MT