ROCKAWAY TWP. - About 300 sign-waving and chanting protesters paraded through the local Townsquare Mall Saturday, opposing a proposed ICE detention center in nearby Roxbury and demanding an end to ICE enforcement everywhere.

This was an impressive show of solidarity and passion by any measure. The crowd gathered in the parking lot and then marched inside.

They moved along the corridors of the mall, maneuvering around surprised shoppers and stand-alone vendors.

They stopped occasionally for brief speeches and chants.

"Say It Loud.  Say It Clear. Immigrants Are Welcome Here" was a popular one.

Some onlookers, probably startled by the commotion, snapped photos. There were no obvious negative responses from shoppers.

ICE activities are a nationwide controversy. Locally, things ratcheted up immeasurably when news surfaced almost a year ago now about the feds' plan to convert a Roxbury warehouse into an ICE facility.

Both the township and state have gone to court to stop the plan.

Nonetheless, the proposal has prompted passionate outbursts from opponents at local town council meetings. The most recent meeting - Tuesday of this week - was cancelled because things were getting out of hand.

Some of the speakers today were critical of politicians on both sides of the aisle.

One said he wants Mikie Sherrill to do more to oppose and to stop ICE activities.

Just for the record, the governor has been critical of ICE activities in New Jersey since taking office.

Also taking some heat was state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, the Republican leader, who is also Roxbury Township Attorney.

Another speaker noted that the state Legislature is up for election in 2027 and that it is time "for Bucco to go."

In the aftermath of Tuesday's cancelled meeting, the Roxbury Council has issued a statement, saying the session was called off because of "escalating disruptions" by protesters. It called the antics "extremely disheartening."

And as it has done many times, the council reiterated its opposition to the ICE facility. It said the following:

"Our position has not changed and we will continue to pursue every appropriate legal and political avenue available to us to prevent this (warehouse) conversion."

Adding to the overall drama has been a report the federal Homeland Security Department has gone ahead and signed a contract with a vendor to convert the warehouse.

That has now gotten the attention of Sen. Andy Kim. Here is a recent statement from the senator.

"I spoke with Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo about the latest news about the proposed ICE detention center in his town. Our conversation concerned a recent news report that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may have signed a contract with a vendor to renovate or retrofit the facility.

“My office has filed an official inquiry for DHS to explain these reports, and we are pressing for an urgent response. But let's be clear: If the news story is true, the contract would go against everything Mayor Potillo and many of us have been fighting for over the past many months, namely, to keep ICE out of Roxbury. The Mayor and I have worked together in close partnership towards this goal of stopping the proposed detention center, and his team has been critical to this end, including filing a lawsuit against ICE. We are strongest when we work together, and I will continue to work alongside the mayor, the township, and the people who stand united against ICE’s unilateral actions.”

Back inside the mall, Kim's statement was unknown to the marchers, but not necessarily the sentiment of showing strength by working together.

As the protesters moved past JC Penny, Foot Locker, an AT&T outlet and eventually into the food court, there was another popular chant.

"The People United Will Never Be Defeated."

Or as it was said in Espanol:

"El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido!"

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