Federal agents in heavy body armor used batons and pepper spray to push back protesters outside Delaney Hall during demonstrations tied to conditions inside an immigrant detention facility. Protesters tried to block vehicles from entering and exiting the facility, creating makeshift shields from traffic drums, wooden pallets, and a mattress. Agents struck protesters with batons and protesters responded with projectiles including water bottles and stones. Agents then launched pepper bombs to force dispersal, and when that failed they sprayed people indiscriminately, with journalists among those affected. Clashes continued overnight, leaving injured protesters. Early Thursday, protesters argued over whether to block trucks to prevent ICE transfers, leading to shoving matches before deciding to allow truckers to proceed.
"Federal agents wearing heavy body armor and wielding batons and pepper spray forced the group back, and the protesters responded by creating their own shields made of traffic drums, wooden pallets and even a mattress. ICE agents struck protesters with batons; the demonstrators launched projectiles such as water bottles and stones in response. Federal agents then launched pepper bombs, hoping to choke the uprising and get the protesters to disperse."
"When that failed, the agents then began indiscriminately spraying people with pepper-spray. No one was immune to the attack; several journalists, including this reporter, were hit with the stinging chemical. It was akin to a war zone outside the New Jersey detention center after dark."
"During the early hours of Thursday, some protesters began arguing among themselves. One side attempted to block several trucks in hopes that they, in turn, would block ICE transfer vehicles from accessing the facility; the other argued that their fight was not with the truckers. This led to several shoving matches between demonstrators, who ultimately decided to let the truckers do their job."
Read at www.amny.com
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