Activists and advocates with the organization Make the Road New Jersey have responded to Donald Trump’s mass deportation blueprints by organizing a rally outside the Elizabeth Detention Center, where elected officials, labor leaders, and clergy members joined immigrants in a show of solidarity and resistance.
Hundreds of people from surrounding states including New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, joined a protest outside the Elizabeth Detention Center, a private detention center runner by the Corporation Corrections of America, to demand a stop to immigration raids.
Scenes from the protest spread throughout social media, some of which you can see below:
#HeretoStay: Join us now @ Elizabeth Detention Center, 625 Evans St. Elizabeth NJ, 07201 to rally against immigration raids and enforcement
— Sutton Crawford (@Suttoncrawford) February 23, 2017
Our message today in Elizabeth Detention Center is clear – No More Deportations! #NoBanNoWallNoRaids pic.twitter.com/u13mjGBFjw
— Javier H. Valdés 🦋 (@javierhvaldes) February 23, 2017
Estamos listos para la lucha! Ready to make our voices heard: #NoBanNoWallNoRaids! We are #HeretoStay! @MaketheRoadNY @MaketheRoadCT pic.twitter.com/nIUUpeu2Zt
— Make the Road New Jersey 🦋 (@MaketheRoadNJ) February 23, 2017
"Aquí estamos y no nos vamos!" "We're #HeretoStay!" Immigrant community & advocates rally at Elizabeth Detention for #NoBanNoWallNoRaids! pic.twitter.com/k3pDuNECnD
— Make the Road New Jersey 🦋 (@MaketheRoadNJ) February 23, 2017
View from rally at Elizabeth Detention Center to demand #NoBanNoWallNoRaids! We're #HeretoStay! pic.twitter.com/T4QUV1T62Y
— Make the Road New Jersey 🦋 (@MaketheRoadNJ) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/marisa_iati/status/834803697565724672
Several advocates were arrested at the rally following the demonstration that blocked one of the roads leading to the detention center, causing the crowd to erupt in chants of support.
BREAKING! NJ immigrants and allies block street outside Elizabeth Detention Center! #NoBanNoWallNoRaids pic.twitter.com/88crhIuVqI
— Daniel Altschuler 🦋 (@altochulo) February 23, 2017
Five activists arrested at #ImmigrationOrder protest @ Elizabeth Detention Center for blocking the street/refusing to disperse. @NJTVNews pic.twitter.com/7gCrsfrCtK
— Erin Delmore (@ErinDelmore) February 23, 2017
Diana from NJ + 4 more stood up by sitting down! Say no 2 #ICEraids & Trump deportation machine! #NoBanNoWallNoRaids pic.twitter.com/moFl9ktq6w
— Daniel Altschuler 🦋 (@altochulo) February 23, 2017
After the rally, organizers led a delegation of local residents to visit New Jersey Representative, Leonard Lance, in Westfield, New Jersey to demand that he stands up to Donald Trump and denounce mass immigration raids.
NOW: @MakeTheRoadNJ members about to confront @RepLanceNJ7 for not protecting immig families! #NoBanNoWallNoRaids pic.twitter.com/vkbxypSvvy
— Daniel Altschuler 🦋 (@altochulo) February 23, 2017
Our msg today to Rep. Leonard Lance. You must help protect our families! #NoBanNoWallNoRaids @RI4A @AmericasVoice pic.twitter.com/9yCm942HXL
— Make the Road New Jersey 🦋 (@MaketheRoadNJ) February 23, 2017
Delegation enters @RepLanceNJ7 office to demand end to #ICERaids. #NoBanNoWallNoRaids @RI4A pic.twitter.com/y8tG7j7hlh
— Make the Road New Jersey 🦋 (@MaketheRoadNJ) February 23, 2017
.@RepLanceNJ7, constituents are watching. (Note 2 Congressional Rs: yours are watching u too.) #NoBanNoWallNoRaids pic.twitter.com/NNmV6sVKnr
— Daniel Altschuler 🦋 (@altochulo) February 23, 2017
