Youth-led ICE protest brings students from all over New Jersey to JC City Hall

On March 1st, 2026, hours after the morning snowfall, over 100 members from all across New Jersey gathered in Downtown Jersey City to participate in a youth-led ICE protest. The protest started at Grove Street and moved to Jersey City City Hall, where speakers gave shared sentiments on ICE. In addition to members from Hudson County, community members from Newark, Edison, and Atlantic City were present.

The protest was organized by fifteen youth members from organizations all over New Jersey, including the Jersey City High School and College Democrats, Seton Hall Democrats, El Pueblo Unido, Newark High School Democrats, and the Hudson County Young Democrats. Janhitha Veeramachaneni, Chair of the Jersey City High School & College Democrat and a college student at Barnard Columbia, was the main organizer and hosted the rally, emphasizing the importance of protesting against ICE. “We are not anti-safety, we are anti-fear!” Veeramachaneni exclaimed.

Many speakers shared their own personal immigrant stories and confrontations with ICE. For example, Allison Garcia, a senior at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, NJ, shared her own experiences with ICE taking away her mother. “It was just me and my mom, and when she got deported to Mexico, I was all alone, ” Garcia explained. “How am I supposed to be planning for college when they took away my mom?” Garcia questioned. She joined El Pueblo Unido, a non-profit organization based in Atlantic City with a mission to empower and protect Latino immigrants, to share her story to youth all over New Jersey. “My story makes other people wake up and realize ‘Damn, this is happening,’” Garcia said, “They may have taken away my mother, but they will not shut down my voice.” 

Other speakers addressed the current political climate, highlighting the recent bombings of Iran, the pedophilic Epstein Files, and the dangerous Trump administration. Some signs read: “ICE ABUSE MUST END NOW!” and “Just left APUSH, ICE might need a lesson or two.”

This protest was also a retaliation against the Board of Education wide restrictions on walkouts and student organized protests. Many students from McNair Academic High School helped facilitate the event, after having their own walkout shut down by their school. “Now we are here and we are able to advocate,” Jermaine Finley, one of the main organizers and a student from McNair remarked. Even teachers from McNair spoke about their own immigrant experiences and the importance of protecting students as an educator. “Our schools are not a political battleground, they are a sanctuary for learning.” Kirsten Zadroga-Hart said. “I will protect our students full stop.”

Many politicians spoke out of solidarity for the cause. “There is nothing more American than coming together and saying ‘No More!’” JC Ward C councilperson Tom Zuppa exclaimed. Other major politicians who spoke were JC Ward E councilperson Eleana Little, Senator Raj Mukherji, Senator Angela McKnight, Assemblypersons Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, JC Ward D Councilperson Jake Ephros, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea, and Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray Thomas. 

Students were not the only ones who participated, many adults and elderly gathered as well to support. “I’ve been protesting since the 1970s,” Liz, a retired art teacher and member of Hoboken Resist said. “Acting locally is the only way to make a change at the national level. Hoboken, Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne, and all of Hudson County are starting to build a community which I have never seen before since my 50 years of living here!” Additionally, she and the youth organizers are planning a No Kings protest for March 28th, 2026.