“What the State Police are doing at Delaney Hall is an absolute disgrace.  

“According to community members on the ground, there has been no honest attempt to de-escalate the situation or talk to people who are gathering. The State Police have showed up in riot gear and have gassed protesters as less than lethal projectiles have been fired at the crowd.

“If the State Police are going to use the same tactics as ICE agents, then they are no different than ICE. These actions do not in fact uphold public safety and do not protect people’s constitutional rights to peacefully demonstrate.

“The State Police have a long, documented history of brutalizing Black and brown communities in this state, and for the past two nights, they have added to that painful history. Instead of de-escalating the situation, State Police continue to sever trust between the State and our communities.

“We are baffled that the State has chosen to use excessive force against unarmed community members exercising their 1st Amendment rights. At the same time, we have yet to see the State enforce the law against rogue federal agents who are terrorizing those speaking out against ICE’s abuses inside Delaney Hall, including our neighbors who are detained, as well as medics, protesters, and the press.

This moment exists because conditions inside Delaney Hall are deplorable and thousands of New Jersey residents have been denied the due process rights enshrined in our Constitution. To truly keep New Jersey residents safe, Governor Mikie Sherrill must move funds as quickly as possible to the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative so that all community members can fight for their freedom.