Protesters Occupy Philadelphia ICE Office
Philadelphia, PA – In the latest development in the “Occupy ICE” protest encampments spreading across America, protesters have set up a new encampment outside an ICE building at 8th & Cherry Street in Philadelphia (a “sanctuary city“). Unicorn Riot has been providing live coverage into the night.
7/5/18 – 10:57 PM EDT UPDATE: The #OccupyICEPHL encampment outside the ICE office at 8th and Cherry has mostly disbanded at this point; a new occupation is being set up at Philadelphia City Hall to demand Philadelphia’s Mayor end the information sharing relationship with the Philadelphia Police and ICE via the PARS system.
The #OccupyICEPHL encampment outside the ICE office at 8th & Cherry has mostly disbanded at this point; a new occupation is being set up at Philadelphia City Hall to demand @PhillyMayor end the @PhillyPolice information sharing relationship w ICE via the PARS system pic.twitter.com/KPRWLEceiQ
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 6, 2018
7/5/18 – 12:15 PM EDT UPDATE: Philadelphia police have just swept through the #OccupyICEPHL camp outside the Philadelphia ICE office, making seven arrests for “failure to disperse”. Counter-Terrorism Unit, SWAT, DHS federal police, and Philly bike police have formed a crowd control line on the street facing #AbolishICE protesters.
After making several arrests and ultimately throwing most of the encampment’s belonging across the street, garbage crews have showed up while hundreds of officers attempt to clear #occupyicephl
Watch #LIVE https://t.co/lPjWl3zzA6 pic.twitter.com/SDKgkxKZ7b
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 5, 2018
7/3/18 – 2:15 PM EDT UPDATE: Philadelphia Police say 29 #AbolishICE protesters were “issued citations for Failure to Disperse” outside the ICE offices. Two protesters were injured, one person was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
7/3/18 – 12:30 PM EDT UPDATE: Philadelphia Counter-Terrorism Unit & DHS federal police have cleared #AbolishICE protesters from two garage entrances used to move ICE detainees. Activist legal support estimates ~20+ arrests & likely injuries – officers seen punching & pulling people from crowd, throwing them to the ground as police clear the street.
Counter-Terrorism Unit, Homeland Security federal police, and SWAT arresting #AbolishICE protesters occupying entrances to #Philadelphia #ICE office (7/3/18) pic.twitter.com/nKUDTRi5mk
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 3, 2018
Counter-Terrorism Unit, Homeland Security federal police, and SWAT arresting #AbolishICE protesters occupying entrances to #Philadelphia #ICE office (7/3/18) pic.twitter.com/TjehHPYhGo
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 3, 2018
7/3/18 – 12:00 PM EDT UPDATE: Philadelphia Counter-Terrorism Unit and DHS are using pain compliance to break up protesters and make arrests that are blocking the ICE garage entrances. Counter-terrorism unit is making arrests.
7/2/18 – 11:00 PM EDT UPDATE: Philadelphia police have issued a “final warning”. Tents are blocking the ICE building garage entrances while protesters and vehicles are blocking the roads. Department of Homeland Security federal police and Counter Terrorism units are on scene with gas masks, along with Philadelphia police. Philadelphia police have requested a “mass arrest” team. Militarized police aka Mobile Field Force units (MFF)* are on the scene with zip ties and “less-lethal” weapons ready to make arrests. Police A/V units are gathering intelligence. Unicorn Riot will provide more live updates as the situation unfolds throughout the night.
* National Mobile Field Force doctrine training is provided via the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a 135-page guide found by Unicorn Riot in a data request revealed in November 2016.
The occupation was set up during a ‘STOP ICE’ rally held Monday afternoon at City Hall. The rally, endorsed by over 10 local Philly activist groups, presented three key demands: an end to deportations, the closure of the Berks County Family Detention Center outside of Philadelphia, and an end to Philly Police’s information-sharing relationship with ICE.
ICE’s Philadelphia office made headlines earlier this year when a ProPublica investigation found that the Philly branch of ICE, which covers a 3-state area, makes more arrests of immigrants without no criminal history than any other branch.
Other ‘#OccupyICE’ encampments have sprung up recently in several cities including Portland, New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Detroit.
Watch the Philly streams from 8th and Cherry below:
July 2, 2018:
https://vimeo.com/618284603
https://vimeo.com/618285332
https://vimeo.com/618286191
https://vimeo.com/618286542
https://vimeo.com/618287466
https://vimeo.com/618287610
https://vimeo.com/618289072
https://vimeo.com/618289821
https://vimeo.com/618293656
https://vimeo.com/618293734
https://vimeo.com/618293884
https://vimeo.com/618294698
July 3, 2018:
https://vimeo.com/618295420
https://vimeo.com/618295653
https://vimeo.com/618295728
https://vimeo.com/618296058
https://vimeo.com/618296236
https://vimeo.com/618296577
https://vimeo.com/618296827
https://vimeo.com/618297278
https://vimeo.com/618297856
https://vimeo.com/618299150
https://vimeo.com/618299235
https://vimeo.com/618299616
https://vimeo.com/618299701
https://vimeo.com/618300495
https://vimeo.com/618301029
https://vimeo.com/618301192
July 5, 2018:
https://vimeo.com/618284716
https://vimeo.com/618287440
https://vimeo.com/618290028
https://vimeo.com/618291395
https://vimeo.com/618291612
https://vimeo.com/618291976
https://vimeo.com/618292412
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