As enforcement activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to make headlines, people in New Jersey and across the United States have been taking to the streets in growing numbers, organizing protests and counter-protests over how immigration policies are playing out in their communities. Recently, an emotional anti-ICE protester in New Jersey was caught on video giving a heartfelt interview about his viewpoint, saying he’s “not going to stand by and watch my neighbors run away scared” in response to activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The footage is making the rounds online at the moment.
The clip sees the New Jersey resident stood at the anti-ICE protest in Lindenwold, as horns and whistles blare in the background. Holding a US flag, and sporting a black jacket and blue jeans, the man explains why he attended the rally. “So, I’ve never protested before in my entire life, but uh– I’m sorry.” though the man can’t help but pause as a wave of emotion sweeps over him.
Continuing on, while holding back the tears in his eyes, the man states, “I watched 4th, 5th grade kids run away from our own government. I never want to see that again. And I’m not gonna stand by and watch my neighbours run away scared. It’s not Camden County. It’s not New Jersey. It’s not the United States. I love the United States. I love New Jersey. I love Camden County. I love Little Wall, too. But that’s not, you know, what we are.“
His voice thick with emotion, the man ends the clip, as he explains, “I decided I can, sort of, come out here stand with you guys, and be part of this, because I never want to see a child ever run away from our own government ever again. Sorry about getting emotional.”
As the moving clip circulates online, commenters on social media chimed in with their reactions. On Reddit, one user wrote, “We need so much more of this in every corner of the United States. REAL MEN PROTECT CHILDREN” while another added, “That is a good man“. A third penned, “The most American thing you can see is an American holding an American flag talking about how America’s government is scaring it’s American people… At least everybody sees it now” while a fourth expressed, “A true PATRIOT“.
While ICE operations continue in New Jersey and across the country, this video show just how divided people are, with many residents speaking out about how these actions are carried out and the impact they’re having on their communities.
