The group claims the driver was an ICE guard and the footage had proved it (Image via: Boston Herald)

ICE Detention Center Guard Drove Into Protesters in Rhode Island

On Wednesday night, protesters gathered outside the Donald W. Wyatt ICE Detention Center, Rhode Island, U.S. The protesters were consisted of two activist groups, Never Again Action and AMOR Network. They were trying to shut down the facility that has contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the second time. Never Again Action is known as Jewish group who were calling for the close-down of ICE Detention Center for the past two months. Meanwhile, Amor, a Rhode Island-based immigrant rights group. The demonstration was happening in peace until a man with ICE Detention Center guard drove in pickup truck and try to run them over.

The spokesperson for Never Again Action, Amy Anthony, said that there were 400 people gathered outside the facility to protest. Then after the protest subsided just before 10 p.m., 30 demonstrators linked arms and sat in the parking lot entrances to block staff from leaving or entering. All of a sudden, a man wore ICE Detention Center guard uniform drove in pickup truck approaching the crowd. He was slowing down just before hitting the crowd, as the footage about it spread on Twitter through the live-tweet. It also shows the driver kept driving through the crowd despite of the screaming from protestors. Not only that, the protesters also alleged Wyatt Detention Center guards pepper-sprayed them. They said it happened while Rhode Island State Police just stood by and did nothing. After the demonstration is over for that day, five people from the group had been hospitalized; three for severe pepper spray exposure and two with injuries from the truck. It looks like an unfair outcome from a peaceful protest.

The Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility had commented on Thursday about its guard. The facility said that Capt. Thomas Woodworth had been placed on administrative leave during a state police investigation. Wyatt Detention Facility Warden Daniel Martin also said that he is conducting an internal review of the incident and the facility's protocols regarding protest activities. Meanwhile, Amy Anthony stated the protesters won’t back down despite of the incident. They will remain faithful to free all migrants from detention.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-pick-truck-drives-group-ice-protesters-rhode-island-n1042716