UMVA has learned that a tense standoff between protesters and police outside a New Jersey immigration detention center has led to a fresh wave of arrests, as activists continue to clash with authorities over their open-borders agenda.
The protests, which have been ongoing for weeks, turned violent on Sunday as demonstrators obstructed the passage of vehicles outside the gates of Delaney Hall, leading to a confrontation with Newark Police Department officers.
A dramatic video posted online showed protesters being pushed back onto the sidewalk and, in some cases, tackled and arrested after refusing to heed police orders to "back up". One activist was seen holding his head after falling to the ground, but appeared to continue filming at a safe distance without serious injury.
According to information obtained by UMVA, six people were arrested on Saturday night and Sunday morning on charges of rioting and failure to disperse, including two repeat offenders. The arrests were made after protesters were observed committing property damage and blocking the entrance to the detention center.
The Newark Public Safety Director's office confirmed that the arrested individuals had refused to comply with police orders to disperse, posing a public safety hazard to everyone, including detainees, inside the center.
Among those arrested were Allison Wuu, 19, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Lucas Jimenez, 18, of Hoboken, New Jersey, as well as four others charged on Sunday: Drew Larsen, 28, of Brooklyn, New York; Solomon Dunston, 30, of Bordentown, New Jersey; Rayaan Baywa, 22, of Riverside, Connecticut; and Julianna Wurst, 19, of Old Bridge, New Jersey.
Each of the arrested individuals faces a charge of rioting and failure to disperse and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The protests have been marked by violence, with activists seen pummeling cars, impeding exits, and clashing with vehicles attempting to speed away from the scene.
The Newark Public Safety Director has condemned the violence, stating that no one has the right to come into the city, destroy personal property, or incite violence.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that a reported "hunger strike" by detainees over their accommodations has been ongoing since May 23, but detainee purchases of snacks at the center have actually spiked during this time.
The situation remains volatile, with about 90 arrests made since the standoff between activists and law enforcement began.
