Anti-ICE demonstrators near the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark have actively raised funds to purchase riot gear and specialized protective equipment to confront law enforcement during ongoing protests. These efforts include collecting money for helmets, body armor, and military-grade shatterproof goggles that meet U.S. military specifications for projectile protection.
The campaign appears coordinated, with organizers using personal Venmo accounts to collect donations from supporters nationwide. One organizer, Jenny Garcia, a communications coordinator for the Detention Watch Network, has received funds to buy items such as knee, wrist, shin, and arm guards, as well as P100 respirators that protect against oil-based irritants and decontamination wipes designed to counter pepper spray effects.
Among the high-priority items on a publicly shared wish list are MIL-PRF-32432 certified goggles, welding gloves meant to shield against tear gas canisters, and even wheelchairs, underscoring the protesters’ readiness for sustained and confrontational demonstrations. The 50501 Movement, a left-leaning activist group that organized nationwide protests under the slogan “50 protests. 50 states. 1 day.,” has highlighted these needs as critical to their strategy against what they label the “ICE Gestapo.”
The intensified calls for funding have drawn sharp criticism, with some accusing the protests of being artificially fueled by outside money. Former President Donald Trump recently labeled the demonstrators as “fake” and claimed that Democrats provided financial backing. These allegations gained traction after violent clashes, including an incident where an individual was charged with assaulting ICE officers.
Local authorities continue to monitor the protests, which arose amid allegations concerning detainee treatment at Delaney Hall—claims that federal officials have denied. Protesters maintain that their protective gear is vital for resisting harsh responses and amplifying the voices of those confined within the facility.