ICE Officer who Drove into Jewish Demonstrators Placed on Leave

Undocumented Mexican immigrants are photographed while being processed at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2010. (John Moore/Getty Images)

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement official who drove a pickup truck into a row of Jewish protesters in Rhode Island has been placed on leave, and police have announced that they will investigate the incident.

Five of the protesters were hospitalized, according to Tal Frieden, an organizer of the protest. The incident occurred on Aug. 14 at a protest in front of an ICE detention center in Central Falls, a Providence suburb.

The protest, organized by the new Jewish group Never Again Action, ended after an ICE official named Thomas Woodworth drove the pickup into a row of protesters who were blocking the entrance to the detention facility’s parking lot.

“Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility Warden Daniel Martin is also conducting a top to bottom review of the incident, Wyatt correctional officers’ response, and the Wyatt’s protocols regarding protest activities outside of the facility,” a statement from the detention center said. “The Wyatt supports the First Amendment right of citizens to peacefully protest on public property surrounding the facility, and the First Amendment right of journalists to report on the facility.”

Frieden said two protesters were injured by Woodworth, including one who suffered a broken leg, internal bleeding and a possible back fracture. In addition, Frieden said three protesters sustained injuries when correctional officers subsequently used pepper spray on them.

Frieden, who was not injured, was sitting near the protesters as the truck came upon the group.

“I heard someone yell that there’s a car coming, and turned around and saw the truck approach the crowd over my shoulder, and jumped out of the way,” said Frieden, who has attended protests against ICE in New York and Washington, D.C. “I know intellectually that this violence occurs every day in our communities across the country, but this is a stark reminder that ICE will go to any lengths to inflict violence on immigrants and those who stand with immigrants.”

State Police, as well as the Rhode Island attorney general’s office, are investigating the incident. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza came out in support of the protesters.

“We in #PVD stand with @NeverAgainActn and our community members who were there to say that we will not stand for this,” Elorza tweeted.

Never Again Action was founded earlier this year to protest ICE’s detention of undocumented immigrants, as well as U.S. immigration policy.

On Aug. 11, 40 protesters were arrested at one of the group’s demonstrations at a brick-and-mortar Amazon store in New York City. The group was protesting Amazon’s contracting with ICE.

Ben Sales writes for the JTA international news agency and wire service.

You May Also Like
Baltimore-Based Israel Baseball Americas Aims to Expand Influence of Baseball in the Jewish State
Adam Gladstone played a crucial role in helping Team Israel prepare for and work its way to a surprising sixth-place finish in the World Baseball Classic. (Photo courtesy of Adam Gladstone)

Launched Mar. 18, Israel Baseball Americas is an effort to support the Israel Association of Baseball.

Making a Racket about Racquetball
Park Heights JCC

A group of longtime racquetball players is upset about the JCC's decision to remove its courts, writes Michael Olesker.

Ashkelon Youth to Visit Baltimore as Part of Diller Teen Fellowship Program
Diller Fellowship's three-week summer seminar

While in Charm City, the fellows will visit the Inner Harbor and Fells Point while meeting with local Jewish community officials.

Baltimore Zionist District to Present ‘Echoes of October 7’ Virtual Event
The Empty Shabbat Table

Among the speakers during the March 19 gathering will be Sharon Alony-Cunio, whose husband continues to be held hostage in Gaza.