New details are emerging about the organization behind recent anti-ICE demonstrations in Newark, New Jersey, as reports indicate activists used encrypted messaging platforms and coordinated social media campaigns to mobilize supporters around Delaney Hall, the city's ICE detention facility.
According to the report, an activation message was posted on social media at approximately 11:30 a.m. on June 3, calling on protesters and agitators to return to Delaney Hall.
“CURFEW IS OVER. BACK TO DELANEY,” read an Instagram post that was promoted by a coalition of organizations, including anti-Israel groups, Marxist organizations, and Democratic activist networks. Among those identified were Palestine Solidarity Working Group, Al-Awda, Indivisible, and 50501.
The groups have reportedly been involved in demonstrations and confrontations related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as local and state law enforcement agencies, including the Newark Police Department and New Jersey State Police.
According to the report, the call to action quickly spread through private groups on Signal, the encrypted messaging platform widely used for secure communications. Within minutes, hundreds of activists were reportedly mobilized through chat groups featuring anonymous usernames such as “framed.unrest” and “Wicked Something.”
The communications allegedly included coordination of transportation, logistics, and supplies for participants. Items discussed reportedly included protective goggles, equipment designed to reduce the effects of pepper spray, respirators, and protective knee pads.
The revelations provide a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes planning of large-scale activist operations and the role encrypted communications can play in organizing demonstrations. While organizers often portray such events as spontaneous grassroots movements, reports like these suggest a significant level of preparation and coordination occurring well before crowds arrive on the scene. Apparently, some “spontaneous” protests require quite a bit of logistical planning.
As scrutiny of the Newark demonstrations continues, the reported communications are likely to fuel further debate over activist networks, immigration enforcement, and the methods used to organize large-scale protests across the country. What remains clear is that Delaney Hall has become a focal point in one of the nation’s most heated immigration battles.
