Jersey City activist groups Spirit of Liberation and Knitty Gritty JC activists led a Barrio walk in the Jersey City Heights to inform business about how to deal with an encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
An activist named Alex, who declined to give her last name, coordinated the group, who began the event at Pershing Field.
“This is about connecting with the community … We’re providing support to everyone,” she stated, further explaining the information they would be distributing, including a hotline number to call to inform the movement of where ICE is.
They also had copies o a plan of action sheet on what to do when ICE arrives. That piece of literature specifically compared and contrasted a signed judicial warrant that would hold up in court versus an ICE administrative warrant, which will not.
Additionally, bilingual red cards were handed out to people to keep in their wallet of what to say when confronted by ICE, as well as giving a paper with a hotline number to call if ICE is spotted in the area: 1-888-347-3767.
The line is run and operated by immigration advocacy group DIRE NJ.
The group on hand Saturday also passed out a red card that explains they do not have to answer any questions under 5th Amendment of the Constitution.
Similarly, under the 4th Amendment, no police have the right to enter a home in the Unites States without a signed judicial warrant.
The large number of activists who gathered in Pershing Field was then broken down into smaller groups that included a Spanish speaker to cover that section of the neighborhood.
Among those gathered and participating in the walk were Beverly Brown Ruggia and Mo Kinberg, who led two separate groups who began canvassing in Central Avenue and the surrounding area.
Furthermore, they noted that an employees only section of businesses is an option for workers to stay safe if ICE enters the building.
A daycare that one group spoke to was very receptive and took information when approached by the activist group, as was the McDonald’s manager on Central Avenue, a discount store manager, and a liquor store owner – among many others.
