An anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest in New York City turned violent after more than 150 demonstrators attempted to block agents during a raid in Downtown Manhattan.
Activists lined up trashcans and plant pots in the road in an attempt to barricade agents as they conducted a sting in Chinatown on Saturday. The demonstration erupted after rumors spread ICE agents would be rounding up illegal immigrants in the area later this weekend.
Large groups of protesters quickly began grouping around a garage where ICE agents were reportedly mustering before the chaos broke loose.
Demonstrators threw trash and cardboard boxes into the street and stood in front of moving vehicles in an attempt to prevent the raid.
Video from Freedom TV showed the NYPD clashing with protesters and desperately trying to clear the roadway, with some protesters violently shoved out of the way of white vans.
Police were allegedly forced to use mace to try and break up the mob before making at least two arrests, police sources told the New York Post.
The NYPD and ICE agents were seen neck-and-neck with a large group of protesters blocking the streets in Chinatown on Saturday morning
Angry protesters could be heard chanting ‘ICE out of New York’ as they blocked white vans from leaving a federal building near Howard and Centre Streets
Angry protesters could be heard chanting ‘ICE out of New York’ as they blocked white vans from leaving a federal building near Howard and Centre Streets.
Some protesters were seen pouring water in their eyes after being pepper sprayed. It is unclear who sprayed people.
Other demonstrators were seen blocking a driveway while NYPD and what appeared to be ICE agents blocked the entrance into the garage.
‘You people are scum!’ one man yelled as police surrounded a person on the ground. ‘F**king scum!’
‘You disgusting, you guys, man,’ another man yelled. ‘F**k all y’all, man. New York!’
‘You should be protecting the people of New York!’ the first man yelled at a police officer. ‘Not these f**king Nazi bulls**t Gestapo pieces of s**t!
‘You’re garbage!’ he screamed several times as police tried to get protesters off the street while a man appeared to be arrested. ‘You’re traitors to New York! Every single one of you is a traitor to New York City! You’re f***king all traitors!’
The NYPD confirmed to the Daily Mail that several people were arrested.
‘They were instructed multiple times to disperse, and they did not comply. As a result, multiple individuals were taken into custody,’ a spokesperson said.
A police officer was seen shoving a man into the street
Police officers desperately attempted to clear their path of destruction, but protesters were undeterred
The NYPD confirmed to the Daily Mail that several were arrested
‘They were instructed multiple times to disperse, and they did not comply. As a result, multiple individuals were taken into custody,’ a NYPD spokesperson told the Daily Mail
New York Times reporter, Emma G. Fitzsimmons, said on X that Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge, Ricky Patel, apologized to NY Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch for the confrontation today.
Tisch told Patel the events today were ‘unacceptable’ and told him it needs to stop.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Homeland Security for comment.
Protests previously broke out in October after agents attempted to do the same thing in the predominately Asian neighborhood.
In October, federal agents shut down Canal Street to target illegal street vendors.
A bag vendor reportedly sprinting up and down Canal Street shouting: ‘ICE is here’ and pointing to unmarked cars.
Nearby, protestors closed in on federal agents, chanting ‘f**k ICE!’ as phones went up to record the arrests at the time.
