New Jersey anti-ICE protester waving an upside-down American flag was hit by a car and video shows she was thrown to the ground
Protests outside a U.S. immigration detention center turned chaotic on Sunday when a demonstrator was struck by a car while waving an inverted American flag, the New York Post reported.The incident occurred outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, where dozens of protesters gathered on Father’s Day to call for the release of detainees and the closure of the facility.Video from the scene showed a woman holding an upside-down American flag standing in front of the building’s entrance, blocking the passage.Moments later, a red Dodge Challenger drove toward the group, mowed down the protesters, and then continued on its way. She fell to the ground but was later seen moving as fellow demonstrators nearby shouted.The New Jersey-based activist group Visible Brigade told Pix 11 that the protester, who is from Minnesota, was not seriously injured. “She is not believed to have sought medical attention,” the organization said.The group also claimed that the vehicle driver was an employee of GEO Group, a private company that operates the 1,000-bed facility, although this has not been confirmed by authorities.Tensions further escalated after the incident, with protesters claiming Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers used pepper spray on the crowd.The demonstration was part of a Father’s Day vigil outside Delaney Hall, with participants holding signs reading “Free Dad, Shut Down Camp” and tying ties to the fence while confronting police stationed at the door.The facility has become a recurring flashpoint in recent weeks with ongoing protests over detainees’ claims of poor conditions, including overcrowding, limited access to services and concerns about case delays. Officials deny the accusations and say detention standards are higher than those in many U.S. prisons.Earlier this month, 12 protesters were arrested outside the center on charges including allegedly assaulting federal officers. Some of the detainees were said to be from out of state, and investigators also found that some had ties to activist groups opposed to ICE operations at the site.
