Massive anti-ICE protest at Super Bowl
Activists have launched a massive anti-Ice Super Bowl protest in a bid to “demand a country that welcomes immigrants,” reports BritPanorama.
Protesters opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement were seen handing out 25,000 white towels ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl in Santa Clara. A group called “Contra-Ice” distributed placards with the slogan “ICE OUT,” encouraging spectators to wave them during the match.
The activists gathered near the Hilton Santa Clara Hotel on Sunday morning, just five minutes from Levi’s Stadium, where the game was taking place. Among the demonstrators was 81-year-old sociologist David Tobis, who compared Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown to the Third Reich, stating, “Ice is killing people. Ice is a military force like the storm troopers in Nazi Germany.”
Lead protest organiser Shasti Conrad explained that the group drew inspiration from Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny’s Grammy Awards appearance, where he declared “Ice out” after winning album of the year. “The Super Bowl is one of the most powerful cultural moments in the country, where music, competition, and identity all collide,” Ms Conrad remarked.
Another protester outside the venue carried a message on her t-shirt reading “leave your Maga husband,” indicating the political tensions surrounding the event. Bad Bunny also participated in the protests while marching with dancers carrying Caribbean and South American flags. Although he faced backlash from some of Trump’s supporters, he expressed pride in performing on what he described as “the biggest stage in the world.”
Trump himself has criticised the choice of performers like Bad Bunny and Green Day, suggesting that they will “sow hatred.” The former president did not attend the Super Bowl, contrasting his historic presence at the event last year. Green Day’s frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, has been vocal in his dissent against the administration.
In an atmosphere of stark division, conservative organisation Turning Point USA organised a rival “All-American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock as an alternative. While many rallied for change, others outside the stadium remained staunchly in favour of border controls. One church minister expressed his belief that there should be systems in place for those wishing to enter the country peaceably.
This convergence of sport and protest illustrates the significant cultural and political currents at play in contemporary America, a reminder of how events intended for entertainment often become platforms for broader social issues.
