Rally Planned At Newark Penn Station: ‘Free Immigrant Detainees’

NEWARK, NJ — A coalition of social justice organizations plan to hold a demonstration on Saturday, March 6 in Newark to demand the release of federal immigrant detainees in New Jersey and the United States.

According to a news release from organizers, the rally will take place at 2 p.m. at Raymond Plaza, outside of Newark Penn Station.

Protesters are calling on President Joe Biden to “free all immigrant detainees immediately with emergency orders.” Read More: Democrat Plan Could Give 11M Immigrants A Path To US Citizenship

Organizers said that despite the president’s “campaign rhetoric and promises,” many immigrants remain detained without charge or trial at prisons in Essex, Bergen and Hudson counties.

“These detainees’ basic human rights have been gravely violated … the detentions are and have always been unconstitutional,” organizers charged. “The violations of the detainees’ rights undermines the rights of all.”

• See related article: Prison Hunger Strikes Continue In NJ As ICE Detainees Fear COVID
• See related article: NJ Senators Want To End ICE Contracts As Hunger Strike Continues

Organizers said they’re pushing for four goals:

EQUAL RIGHTS - “All who live here, regardless of national origin, immigrant status, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender, have equal rights. We refuse to be divided by racism by sexism by religious bigotry. We oppose institutional racism, discrimination and the disparities created in society. End all deportations, detentions, and violations of due process rights. End all limits on the right to vote, to unionize, to organize and to strike. Freedom of movement for all. Without equal rights, we can’t unite to defend our lives.”

EQUAL ACCESS – “All who live here have the right to quality and equal free education, health care, transportation, housing, clean air and water, and clean energy. The government must provide democratically-controlled quality services for all, paid for by taxing the rich and corporations, defunding the police, slashing weapons spending and ending all US wars, occupations and military aid that force people to migrate. Lack of adequate health care, fossil-fuel-driven air pollution which has weakened everyone’s lungs, and overcrowded housing has led to this pandemic spreading out of control.”

GOOD JOBS – “All who live here have the right to good jobs at good, living wages. Providing quality free education, health care, transportation, housing and clean energy will also provide guaranteed good jobs for all. The desperation that leads people to risk their health to hang on to a job must end.”

SOCIALIZATION OF FINANCE – “Public ownership with democratic control of all finance: banks, insurance, investment companies. The federal government has bailed out the financial companies with our tax money and without our consent twice over — it must exercise its ownership, not give it away to billionaire shareholders.”

Endorsers of the March 6 rally include Jobs and Equal Rights for All, the Green Party of NJ, NJ Anti-War Agenda, the Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War, the New York State Youth Leadership Council, Freedom For Immigrants, the New Jersey Industrial Union Council, Democrats for Change NJ, the North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America and the Bergen County Socialists.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.