Delaney Hall ICE Center in New Jersey has been scrutinized in recent news for its hellish conditions. Over 300 people inside its walls went on a hunger strike to protest inhumane living conditions. Now, children of these detainees came to protest on behalf of their loved ones.
TikTok user Sunrisemvmt posted a video of the interaction, showing angry children coming up to the outer fence of the detention center. When they heard about the terrible living conditions, they decided to support their parents and relatives by showing up. As this TikToker reported, they “refuse to stay silent while their parents are locked inside fighting for dignity, safety, and freedom.”
The children approach the gates of the detention facility, yelling at the guards and workers on the other side. One little girl screams at them, “Show your face! Show your face if you want to work here!” The other child, a little boy, taunts the guard, “Show your face scaredy cat!” and to “stop being racist.” The little girl and a little boy yell at the worker and hold a megaphone and whistles. They’re making some noise and drawing attention to their protest.
You can hear other protestors in the background support children and back up their protests. It makes you think about the state of the world when kids younger than teens are coming to show support for their parents taken by ICE.
As this TikToker says, “The kids are alright, and they’re reminding all of us what courage looks like. No family should be torn apart by detention and abuse.”
People online cheered on the kids for their bravery
Comments online were overwhelmingly in support of the kids and their protest, with many agreeing they were doing a better job than even adults. For example, one commenter made a jab at U.S. Congress, “Those kids are more brave than all of congress put together 😳.”
Among the top comments, with over 400 Likes, a TikTok user wrote, “These kids are so brave!!” This started a short thread, with one person saying, “Disgusting behavior.” It’s unclear if that was aimed at the children or ICE agents.
Some commenters drew attention to the fence, noting that it was the only thing that stood between them and violence. “It’s probably good for the kids that they’re protected from those violent State thugs but a fence, never know when a supremacist is going to lash out.”
One TikTok user called out Trump and MAGA, arguing this is what they wanted all along. “This is what they think is making America great. Its never been great for black and brown people… This regime has to go!”
If these little protestors know there’s something wrong with ICE, what excuse do adults who support this have?
