ICE Melts as Streets Erupt, Revolt at Delaney Hall Migrant Prison, UW Campus Occupation Against War Profiteers

Welcome back to The Beautiful Idea. So much has happened since we started to put this episode together. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s not waste any time and dive right into it!

On today’s episode, first we present a interview with an organizer on the recent “Statelessness” conference that took place in Evansville, IN. For more on the conference, check out this recording from the presentation, the Belki Sibe documentary which was shown at the event, a presentation from keynote speaker Jane Gordon, and a PDF booklet about the conference.

Next, we speak with someone involved in Antifa International, which supports international antifascist prisoners, and then turn towards our discussion on the recent deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, CA.

A reminder to follow the Beautiful Idea on BlueSky, Mastodon, and Instagram and check out our website. The Beautiful Idea is also a proud member of the Channel Zero Anarchist Podcast network.

Fire Beats ICE

First up, a dam has broken and the first real eruption in the streets has kicked off against the Trump administration in the fight against ICE and mass deportations. This push back has been building in recent months, as grassroots organizers and groups on the ground have been hard at work pushing back against growing attacks from ICE and the DHS. We’re going to start off our show with a short interview from a reporter at Unicorn Riot, who talks about how ICE is coordinating with local police to create a vast army of law enforcement mobilized to attack migrant workers. Check out the full report on Unicorn Riot here.

In late May, resistance began to heat up at courthouses around the US, as people moved to block ICE agents from snatching people at court hearings regarding their immigration status. as the Trump administration pushed for accelerated deportation numbers. These confrontations then escalated into street clashes in San Diego, Minneapolis, and several other cities, before popping off in early June in Los Angeles, CA. On June 6th and 7th, thousands mobilized following militarized ICE raids on several workplaces, surrounding a federal building in downtown LA, and demanding that ICE release hundreds of people captured by DHS. The next day, people bravely faced off with ICE after federal authorities raided a Home Deport and attacked those in the wider community who came out to protest. Fierce clashes broke out between community members and state forces, with people throwing projectiles at ICE vehicles, eventually driving them from the area after several hours.

The next day, Trump moved to federalize several hundred National Guard troops, already in California to deal with the fires, who were then sent in to guard the detention center, leading to more clashes and rioting, as the Democratic Mayor put a curfew in place, and the LAPD began a campaign of mass terror and brutality against protesters. Solidarity demonstrations and similar revolts began to pop off in more cities, as people began to shut down court houses with mass pickets, mobilize to kick ICE agents out of hotels, and respond to immigration raids with rage and determination. Things popped off in Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, and beyond. CrimethInc. has recently published some amazing report backs that can be viewed here:

• Los Angeles, CA
• Austin, TX
• Chicago, IL

There’s also been some amazing zines published recently to check out and distribute in your community, including:

• Seven Steps to Stop ICE from CrimethInc.
• It Is Fascism, Start Acting Like It from CrimethInc.
• Fire and ICE: Lessons from the Battle of Los Angeles from Ill Will
• Don’t Let LA Stand Alone: A Message to the Gathering Resistance from It’s Going Down

Meanwhile in Newark, NJ, where demonstrators have been demanding the horrific Delaney Hall ICE prison be closed, prisoners there launched a rebellion which led to several people escaping. According to a report on Jersey Counter-Info: 

A few days ago riots broke out at the federal ICE detention center, Delaney Hall, in Newark, NJ. Detainees faced increasing abuse and starvation from their jailers and fought back, reportedly setting fires and knocking down an internal wall used to contain them. At the same time, Delaney Hall was swarmed by waves of protestors who slowed operations and drew the attention of ICE and other federal pigs away from the events occurring inside.

Protestors stood their ground and prevented ICE vans from entering the facility and thinned out the number pigs helping to prevent the riot from being quelled. During this juncture 4 men, who were kidnapped and imprisoned at Delaney Hall by ICE, were able to make their escape from the heavily fortified facility. As of now, they are still free, liberated from detention.

Because of the brave actions of the individuals detained inside Delaney Hall and the protestors outside, 4 people were able to escape and gain freedom. It doesn’t matter how fortified the state’s prisons or detention centers may be, how many federal pigs there are, what weapons they have to brutalize people, solidarity can and will WIN.

Keep fighting, by any means necessary.

There’s also so much happening on the ground that it’s impossible to give a full roundup of everything, so be sure to check It’s Going Down on BlueSky for daily updates. We hope to get a new episode out soon with a better picture of the full extent of the growing wave of anti-ICE action, as well as some thoughts on the massive No Kings demonstrations which took place on June 14th, bringing out millions of people into the streets.

May Day 2025

This May Day, tens of thousands took to the streets across the US, celebrating the radical holiday which honors the Chicago anarchist martyrs and the fight for the 8-hour work day. Labor unions, immigrant rights groups, and community organizations held demonstrations across the US, decrying the Trump administration’s growing attacks on labor unions, immigrant workers, and beyond. Anarchist and autonomous groups also held demonstrations and gatherings across the US to honor the holiday, with various events, actions, and interventions happening in numerous cities. For a full roundup, check It’s Going Down.

This May Day was big, with tens of thousands taking part in strikes, rallies + mass protests across the US. In our latest roundup, we spoke with anarchists and autonomous anti-capitalists in various cities about different community mobilizations this past weekend. itsgoingdown.org/may-day-2025…

— It's Going Down (@igd.bsky.social) 2025-05-10T08:29:14.715Z

Notable mentions include anarchist organized May Day gatherings and festivals in Eugene, OR, Boise, ID, Seattle, WA, Nevada, City, CA, Bloomington, IN, New Orleans, LA, and in several cities in North Carolina, an anarchist festival took place over several days. In Reno, NV, a mutual aid fair was organized, in Denton, TX and Binghamton, NY, anarchist bookfairs were organized, while in Richmond, VA anarchists also organized a march which met with up other May Day demonstrations. Meanwhile in New York City, people occupied the former Yippie HQ building before being evicted by police. Finally, autonomous groups held an anti-ICE marches in Tacoma, WA, Eugene and Olympia, OR and San Francisco, CA.

Puget Sound Anarchists posted a report back on the anti-ICE march on May Day, here and the Dissonant Times, a new autonomous publication out of Eugene, OR, also has a report up on an anti-ICE action on May Day, writing:

On May 2nd there was a call for a black bloc under the slogan MAY DAY MELT ICE, in response to the federal government’s unrestrained escalations against migrants, people connected to last year’s Palestine Solidarity movement, and non-white people in general. A short, small march yielded some light property damage and a fairly heavy response from EPD, resulting in four arrests. Despite the modest attendance and intensity of attack, this was an important testing of the waters here in Eugene, where the climate of repression is shifting, with police beginning to take a more hands-on approach. Police tactics are evolving, and so should ours. And at the same time, this action proved that confrontational street action is very much still possible here. Things are bad, but you can definitely still wile out and get away with it.

The inspiration we derive from others is unbound by time and space and, as an offering of gratitude, we tend to this cosmic fire, stoking its eternal flames. Our shouts and laughs and screams fan the embers of resistance. Together, each exhale creates ignition. Clearly, there is a taste for more heat in Eugene. The limits of endless “peaceful” marches and rallies were reached a long time ago, and we invite others to take initiative themselves; in person, in the streets, in spirit and/or in the numerous other avenues which sustain our counterattack. Despite setbacks, we will keep growing, offering each other grace as we pivot and learn from mistakes. Momentum excitedly continues to build within us — we know when to resist, and when to release.

Read the full report here.

Solidarity with the workers at Urban Ore in #Berkeley, who have been on strike. They've been joined on the picket lines by other IWW union members and community groups.

— It's Going Down (@igd.bsky.social) 2025-04-18T07:48:35.145Z

In the bay area of California, members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) are celebrating a recent victory, following over a month of pickets and strike activity at Urban Ore, a large retail hub that sells used home-hold items and construction materials. Writing on social media, union members wrote:

After 40 days on the picket line pressuring the owners of Urban Ore to meet with us, engage with us at the bargaining table and bargain seriously to address workers’ needs, we have reached agreement on terms to end our strike! We are feeling incredibly proud of the effectiveness of our strike, grateful for all of the support we’ve received from the community to make that happen, and we are looking forward to reaching a full collective bargaining agreement. We have made some big wins which wouldn’t have been possible without the pressure we were able to exert through our direct action! Solidarity forever!

Cop City Trials Start

Minneapolis & St. Paul – Banners were dropped from overpasses this morning in solidarity with the #StopCopCity movement, including the 'SCC 61' facing politicized RICO charges and Jack Mazurek, accused of burning Atlanta Police motorcycles in connection to the movement.

— Unicorn Riot (@unicornriot.bsky.social) 2025-05-14T23:36:20.747Z

Trials for those targeted by the state for resisting the Cop City counter-insurgency training facility have started, with supporters rallying outside of several recent hearings and dropping banners in solidarity across the US. Be sure to check out monthly installments of  In Contempt on It’s Going Down and updates at Weelaunee the Free and Fire Ant Movement Defense.

Antifascist Action and Pride Defense