talia ben-ora

I feel like this clip of people firmly chanting “You are Nazis” at a diligently neutral grip of cops is a good illustration of the dynamic. The cops actually trying to deescalate and not engage is the closest these protestors will get to an apology for the wanton violence unleashed on them.

Finally otg in Newark, NJ where about a hundred people are rallying outside one of the NJ Attorney General’s offices following repression and misinfo to crack down on protests.

Conservative content creator Yaakov Strasberg sustained severe swelling and cuts after being punched in the face by NJSP as they arrested him while documenting their kettle of protestors at Delaney Hall. Says at least 2 others were hospitalized for injuries caused by NJSP. 2/2

Conservative content creator Yaakov Strasberg sustained severe swelling and cuts after being punched in the face by NJSP as they arrested him while documenting their kettle of protestors at Delaney Hall. Says at least 2 others were hospitalized for injuries caused by NJSP. 1/2

“Ma’am I’m not talking to you!” a woman who says she’s with the City of Newark arrived flanked by people from the mayors office (vests). She first checked that press were filming, denied wanting press, held a cop’s hand, then led a prayer circle. Seems she was hoping to pray with protestors.

A small contingent of activists are stationed on the grassy corner on the intersection of Doremus/Roanoke waiting for loved ones being released from Essex County Jail after they were mass arrested yesterday. Newark PD is giving until 9:20 to leave the area on this side, dispersing now at Wilson.

Seems the pro-ICE rally all parked together and have among them a giant flag depicting the images of Alex Pretti and Renee Good and the phrase “America was Pretti Good,” apparently unaware said phrase honors the memory of both American citizens killed by DHS.

Rightwingers keep walking through the supply area like they’ve discovered some secret stash. It’s just stuff people are dropping off in solidarity with the striking detainees and the protestors attempting to impede ICE activity. Feat. @dlj.bsky.social ❤️

Newark PD moved people out of the pen in front of Delaney after realizing it was impeding vehicle access, then used riot shields to sweep people down the block to clear the path for a van, then swept the other way to position inside the barricade they cleared. Separated pro-ICE demo from…everyone.

Newark Police have set up barricades to separate pro-ICE and anti-ICE demonstrators. Immediately the barricades have to be moved to let vehicles through. They said there’d be openings for press but doesn’t seem that message was passed along.

When you see news reports about the pro-ICE protest outside Delaney Hall today, know that it is about 6 people total surrounded by a million cameras with about 75 to 100 anti-ICE demonstrators across the street.

Roughly 75 anti-ICE demonstrators began chanting “No ICE, no fear! Immigrants are welcome here!” as the pro-ICE rally, numbering about ten, begins. A woman who repeatedly entered the demo area on Tuesday has returned, reading names she says are detained at Delaney. No police buffer.

Quick summary of the scene so far this morning outside Delaney Hall: Smattering of MAGA, cement blockades limit vehicle access, temps calm as of now. MAGAs are gathering around piles of trash that two older people who say they oppose Delaney Hall are cleaning up because “someone has to do it.”

Protestors finally caught on to Cam Higby openly boasting about getting them doxxed & hit with federal charges. Supposedly stole his phone, busted his mics. Crowd pressed him *& his armed security* off the block. He & fellow propagandist Nick Sortor were taken behind DHS lines. via Mercado Media

The Bagpipes of Palestine have arrived at Delaney Hall, and offers the crowd which has once again assembled at the south entrance a fiery speech:

ICE just got dog walked back to their post.

ICE fails to push crowd away, crowd ends up pushing them back instead. At ICE facility Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, where it’s suspected that ICE is intending to transport detainees tonight.

ICE seems to be using something stronger than mace, maybe OC. People who get caught in the spray are coughing, gagging, some even vomiting. Much stronger reaction than when mace was used earlier. Now they’re moving the line… just because? Agent with canister gloats about people keeping distance.

Earlier today, a man was removed from Delaney on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. He looked thin but positive, he smiled, waved, and gave a thumbs up while being loaded into the ambulance. His situation is currently unknown.

It seems like ICE is giving the crowd time to recoup before launching into another round of mass macing. Most are right back to where things were before the last 4 or so rounds of mace.

This is a good example of ICE just rushing the crowd, starting with mace and following with batons. Seems to be they’ve simply chosen to engage in this way. Now that almost the whole crowd has gotten maced, things are still and quiet.

ICE chasing someone down the street, again no clue why.

ICE chasing someone down the street, again no clue why.

Update: Lots of mace, ICE escalation for reasons unclear.

Rightwing agitator with an “I Stand with ICE” hat came to Delaney Hall to yell a handful of rightwing talking points at demonstrators. After someone read her plate out loud, she started shouting about being licensed to carry & an ICE agent photographed the person who read her plate (she soon left).

Rightwing counterprotestor known to ICE & press showed up with a two-sided sign bearing the names of two people whose deaths white nationalists used to advocate for anti-immigration propaganda. An ICE agent tells him “Welcome back.” He replies, “Good to be back. Thanks for your…being back.”

I asked Rep. Rob Menendez about characterizations of protests outside Delaney Hall as being riots, which is being used as pretext to suspend visitation and to provoke calls for escalatory action. “It’s bullshit.” Says people have to keep pushing to prevent false info from taking root.

Mystery solved: ICE presence increased and moved in on demonstrators to make way for a truck to remove the giant dumpster full of materials people used to barricade the entrance, including construction barricades belonging to the nearby jail.

“I can’t stop them with my body but I can stop them with my car.” A woman used her car to block traffic for several minutes outside the ICE facility Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey after she saw the gate through which detained people are relocated away from their families.

Agents moved in toward demonstrators, apparently just to move forward, forming a firming line on the rim of the pavement to the entrance they’ve been stationary at since 6am. It’s not clear why any of this is happening (or if there is a why).

Unexplained increase of federal agents at Delaney Hall, going from about 24 to 38. They’re largely standing around fairly relaxed, though they did fix on me as I moved toward where a news team was away from the crowd. Hard to say if that’s from tension or boredom, though.

Video: Delaney Hall staff keep trying to steal barricades (from Essex County Correctional Facility, not Delaney Hall) from protestors who are using them to impede the flow of traffic to and from the detention center.

I’m just harassing Jon at this point

He was doing this for awhile, seemingly hoping to draw attention. Not sure if he’s trying to be intimidating. Mostly seems like he’s having a sensual moment with a can of mace.

About 2 dozen ICE/fed agents continuing to hold a line at one entrance to Delaney Hall. One, with flex cuffs on his vest, is unmasked and diligently caressing a large mace canister in his pants pocket.

ICE seem to have given up on removing the barricade themselves, made Geogroup workers come do it for them. “Defend the homeland.”

ICE back at Delaney Hall, arriving in a bearcat followed by about 6 SUVs. Agents are wearing ballistic helmets, some with batons out holding a line as others behind remove a barricade. About two dozen agents in total.

None of these boys can hang 😩🤪

“Have a good day at work!” a demonstrator cackles as a person who works at Delaney Hall gets out of her car to open the barricade to enter. “We decided we aren’t going to do that for them anymore,” another demonstrator tells me. They’ve also stopped checking vehicles entering.

Still mellow, though briefly tense around 1am when an employee trying to enter the facility refused to let people check her car. Another employee encouraged her to drive forward, into activists. That employee later threatened to call ICE if people continued impeding vehicles entering.

Activists quickly get into position, quietly, then slowly approach the van and verify it’s empty, then a big sigh of relief as people move out of the way.

Organizer directs people to remain calm, not to scream, to not make the situation as they blockade more traumatizing for those in the van being transported. It’s very quiet.

Now the sun has set, the lights inside have gone on, with people detained jumping and waving and dancing behind frosted windows indicating to the crowd of about 100 outside that their chants and music and whistles can be heard inside.

Update from Delaney Hall: Situation calm. Some people being released met with big cheers and hugs. Senator Andy Kim earlier hit with pepper bullets by ICE/DHS which also maced (NO teargas) when encountering blockade attempting to stop transfers. About 100 holding it down, keeping spirits up.

Video via @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social shows the silhouette of a person detained inside Delaney Hall as others unseen flash lights on and off, a sign that they can hear those outside, as a blockade of hundreds successfully stopped the transfer of a strike organizer. www.instagram.com/reel/DYvhDIM...

All exits to Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility in New Jersey, are now being blocked by people who have mobilized in support of a hunger and work strike for better conditions for those detained.

Senator Kim & Congressman Menendez visited Delaney Hall, observing conditions and speaking with detainees and their loved ones tonight. via: www.instagram.com/reel/DYtK0XQ...

Reporter Selina Wang of ABC says she was recording a standup for social media outside the White House when what sounded like 20-30 shots rang out and she was directed to sprint to the press briefing room, now on lockdown. www.instagram.com/reel/DYsruJS...

Since launching the strike yesterday, detainees & their families have faced threats: Gaby says a guard told her visitation would be revoked unless she “knocks it off” & her husband was threatened with solitary confinement—but others protected him. via: www.instagram.com/reel/DYsWt1g...

@jabaribrisport.bsky.social concludes the Not On Our Dime presser with chants of “Free Palestine,” “Not another nickel,” and other solidarity chants.‬

‪AM Claire Valdez speaks, explaining how NY-based groups collect money to fund the ongoing displacement and violence against Palestinians.‬

Now: About 100 rank and file Legal Aid Society attorneys and allies are rallying outside Brooklyn Criminal Court after a woman was forced to give birth in arraignment. They’re discussing other instances of clients dying in custody & harsher punishments for NYC’s poor.

just this part sends me 😩😂😩

anyway i was razzin the cops about delivering their dispersal orders boringly during the demo the other day and he actually tried to pep it up 😩

we have officially reached the dawning of a new era

‪5 arrested after blocking the entrance to Con Edison for nearly 2 hours this morning to call on @NYCMayor and @NYCCouncil to restrict Con Ed rate hikes and to swap old boilers for energy efficient heaters in 1-2 family homes (#GasFreeNYC)‬

NYPD issues dispersal orders as peaceful demonstrators continue chanting and standing in front of the entrance to Con Edison to demand lower rates and #GasFreeNYC. Arrests incoming.

Demonstrators have been rallying for about an hour and a half in front of the entrance to Con Edison. NYPD had been waiting for the Inspector to show up to gameplan. They are now flying a drone, which I’m told is mandatory protocol.

Happening now: Activists are blocking the entrance to Con Edison headquarters in Manhattan to call on Mayor Mamdani & City Council to pass Gas Free NYC, restrict ConEd from hiking rates, & to upgrade heating systems in 1 & 2-family homes to lower rates. @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social @xrnyc.bsky.social

What’s the point of Canary Mission when the people they target celebrate? Ali: “First & foremost I want extend my immediate gratitude to Canary Mission!!! Finally after years & years of hard work I finally got nominated & appointed to be showcased on this prestigious site for false antisemitism...”

the raisin bran box pissed me off so bad

pleeeeeeeeeease is it safe for me to snuggle my radioactive cat yet???

Levy did this earlier as NYPD swept people onto the sidewalks, too. Didn’t even realize he was there until people moved and he said my name. I had my back to an NYPD van here:

NYPD tried making me move into the people Ronen was instigating. Didn’t do anything to clear Levy or any of the guys he had instigated or do anything about him trying to blind me. They didn’t move him or those with him away. But screaming did at least stop what was escalating. So.

Two pro-Israel people arrested after throwing rotten eggs at pro-Palestine demo against illegal land sale event in Midwood NYC.