Around 150 people braved steady rain Saturday afternoon to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the federal government, turning out in downtown Hopewell Borough as part of the town’s ongoing weekly demonstrations.
The protest, held from 1 to 2 p.m. at the corner of Greenwood and Broad streets, was larger than many recent weeks, with participants citing the fatal shooting of Renée Good, 37, by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this week. Federal officials have said the officer fired in self-defense, but videos of the incident circulating online have fueled anger and raised questions among protesters.
Saturday’s gathering unfolded peacefully despite the weather. Protesters held signs reading “ICE Out Now,” “No Kings, No ICE,” and messages calling for democracy and accountability, while chants calling for ICE to leave communities echoed along Broad Street. Passing drivers frequently honked in support, some holding signs out of car windows; a smaller number of motorists shouted opposing comments as they drove by. No confrontations were reported.
The Hopewell protest is part of a regular Saturday Democracy on the Corner demonstration that has taken place downtown for much of 2025, often addressing national political issues and opposition to former President Donald Trump. Organizers said this week’s turnout reflected the national response to Good’s death and a broader “ICE Out” weekend of action.
Among those attending was Jay Vaingankar, a candidate for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who joined the protest and led chants. “I’m here, I’m running for Congress, but today I’m here to protest ICE,” Vaingankar said. “I’m really excited to be here with the community on less than 24 hours’ notice in the rain.”
Additional protests were planned regionally for Sunday, including a rally in Princeton at 1 p.m. and another in Trenton at 3 p.m. at the World War II Memorial. Demonstrations were also held in cities across the country over the weekend.
The local protests coincide with action in Trenton, where New Jersey lawmakers are moving several bills during the final days of the current legislative session that would limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Measures advanced out of committee this week include proposals to restrict where ICE can conduct enforcement actions, limit the sharing of residents’ personal data with federal immigration authorities, and codify existing state directives that limit local law enforcement assistance to ICE. If passed by the full Legislature, the bills would head to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk. With the legislative session ending on Tuesday, these bills are expected to be voted on before the session ends.
