Princeton Vigil Will Urge Gov. Sherrill To Act On Delaney Hall

PRINCETON, NJ — A peaceful sidewalk vigil organized by Indivisible Princeton is planned for Friday, calling on Governor Mikie Sherrill to act on Delaney Hall.

The vigil will be held at 4 p.m. on Stockton Street near Bayard Lane in front of Monument Park in Princeton — this is on the same street as Sherrill's home.

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"Our message is simple: Governor Sherrill must use every available state power to protect detainees, protect their families, protect protesters, and move New Jersey toward the closure of Delaney Hall," according to Indivisible Princeton.

The vigil will call on the governor to "Protect the people detained at Delaney Hall," "Protect their families," and "Protect the protesters."

Over the past week, hundreds of detainees went on hunger strike at the privately run federal immigration detention center, which is located in Newark and houses prisoners from across the state.

Family members of detainees and advocates immediately launched a vigil outside the jail to support the hunger strikers. Since then, a series of clashes have broken out between demonstrators and ICE officers – with at least 17 arrests taking place. Read More: Anti-ICE Protests Continue To Rage In NJ After Turbulent Week At Delaney Hall

Indivisible Princeton also says participants will urge the state to "Stop the use of police violence against people demanding human rights," "Support legal representation for detainees," and "Push for accountability, humane treatment, release for vulnerable detainees, and the closure of Delaney Hall."

Organizers asked people attending to bring large signs and banners visible to passing cars.

Suggested messages for the signs include "Governor Sherrill: Protect Protesters," "Governor Sherrill: Fund Legal Defense Now," "New Jersey Must Not Be Complicit," "Human Rights for Delaney Hall Detainees," and "Close Delaney Hall."

The event is also planned as a singing vigil.

According to Indivisible Princeton, participants will learn and sing songs from the Singing Resistance Songbook and the migrant justice movement.

People who sign up for the vigil on Mobilize will receive a link to an optional Zoom practice session on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Attendance at the practice is not required to join Friday’s event.

For more information or to sign up, click here.

RELATED: Baton Strikes, Pepper Spray, Lunging Kicks And Multiple Arrests: NJ ICE Prison Under Siege