27 March 2025 5:28 P.M.
I was just detained by and my dog was assaulted by plainclothed ICE agents, along with undercover members of the NYPD I believe; while trying to intervene in an ICE abduction on my block.
They refused to identify themselves, were masked, produced no signed warrant, and they were in an unmarked van.
They literally snatched a family walking their kids home from school off the street, and then kicked my dog and cuffed me and my neighbors for asking questions.
They illegally went through my phone, violated multiple Constitutional rights, and then sped off with a family and screaming kids in the back of a van to God knows where.
If this can happen on a corner in Harlem at 5:30 in the afternoon, we are in big trouble guys.
Protect yourselves and your neighbors anyway you know how.
I am absolutely heartbroken, enraged, and disgusted at what my country has become and if you aren’t also; you either aren’t paying attention or you are part of the problem.
EDITED TO ADD: Since this is getting shared around I thought I’d make abundantly clear my takeaway from this experience. It’s this:
Black and brown people in this country have been subjected to this same type of violence and lawlessness for centuries; with often far worse outcomes than I experienced.
The fact the oppressors in power are now willing to also inflict it against a white man of privilege in broad daylight, in the supposed bastion of progressive values that is NYC; only shows how brazen they have become and how dangerous it must be for everyone else not as privileged as I.
White people MUST stand in the way of fascism at every turn. We MUST put our bodies and our privilege on the line. We MUST be wrenches in the gears of this horrible machine we helped create. We don’t have much time left.
*Also videos of the incident are incoming! I got nothing of substance before losing possession of my phone, but I know some neighbors did.
*Update 3/29/25 1:46pm EST: woah this post has completely reached way beyond anything I thought possible or anticipated. It gives me some hope. 1. All your messages and friend requests are really appreciated and beautiful, but I have thousands it’s impossible to add you all or reply to you all, but please organize and connect in your communities!
2. Pictures and video, I know many are asking! I was able to get some videos some folks on my block took, as well as still shots some of those closer to me were able to get.
With how huge this post has become, I’m still trying to figure out the best way to responsibly release them while protecting the identities of vulnerable neighbors, visible addresses and identifying locations, personal info etc. as this took place right outside my building.
I’m being advised that I might have exposed myself a little too much on here, so I’m trying to protect myself some. Still, these pictures and videos have been given to some “ICE-watch” groups, the ACLU and other organizations I trust and who are advising me.
I obviously understand “pics or it didn’t happen” and how important it is to verify authenticity for many reasons. Please bear with me as I’m navigating this all suddenly going viral and how to balance my moral duty to report, speak-out, and share with my own personal safety, freedom, and livelihood and that of others involved.
Please keep an eye out in your own neighborhoods, continue speaking out, and do what you can to stop these things when you see it, and livestream immediately! I really wish I had!
I believe enough white bodies and live cameras might have atleast made these guys think twice and might possibly have stopped this family’s abduction. I know enough of ALL THE PEOPLE, organized, loud and in the streets can hopefully start to reverse the deadly course we are on. All must act according to their skill and comfort level, but all must act! Silence is complicity!
