Emergency Vigil to Condemn ICE Shooting and Support Family Member of Victim Now Held at Hudson County Jail
“We refuse to let ICE terrorize us”
New Jersey – New Jersey community and faith organizations are holding an emergency vigil at 10:00 AM on Sunday February 9th, 2020, in support of Gaspar Avendaño Hernandez, stepfather of ICE shooting victim, held at New Jersey’s Hudson County Jail.
On February 6th, ICE officers brutally shot 26 year old Eric Diaz-Cruz in the face during an action in Brooklyn, New York, where they planned to arrest his relative and fellow construction worker, Gaspar Avendaño Hernandez, when they were both going to work in the morning. After following the family to the hospital, ICE is now trying to deport Gaspar and is holding him in Hudson County jail, so that Gaspar will not be able to testify against them. We absolutely refuse to let ICE continue terrorizing our communities and call upon all New Jerseyans to stand up and denounce this terroristic agency.
The following are statements on this brutal action from ICE:
“The use of guns by ICE against migrant workers and the detention of those who defend them is a clear message that they are creating the Gestapo of this time.” Teresa Vivar, Lazos America Unida, Executive Director
“Casa Freehold, as an organization that stands to support immigrant rights, condemns this violent act. These officials showed up, without announcing themselves or showing any documentation and in a matter of seconds, shot Eric Diaz who was trying to defend Gaspar Avendano-Hernandez. Then for ICE to show up at the hospital which is considered a safe space just goes to show that ICE needs to be abolished. Casa Freehold stands with Gaspar and Eric to demand justice.” Eliana Contreras, Casa Freehold
“First Friends of NJ and New York condemns the brutal suppression that Gaspar and his brother suffered by ICE agents. All this abuse of power, hate, and racism needs to STOP! We need to uphold the inherent dignity and humanity of our community. Aquí estamos y no nos vamos!” Rosa Santana, First Friends of New Jersey and New York
“North New Jersey DSA demands the care and freedom of Gaspar Avendano-Hernandez and Eric Diaz and stands in support of their families. Violent paramilitary organizations like ICE cannot be reformed but must be abolished and held accountable, and New Jersey’s profit seeking relationship with ICE must end immediately.” North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America “NDLON calls for justice for Gaspar, Eric, and the entire migrant community that has faced ICE’s violence, surveillance, intimidation, and terror. This bloody action demonstrates that there is no safety with ICE. We must organize to protect our communities from ICE.” Jorge Torres, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)
“As advocates and organizers of our communities, we must mobilize everywhere in order to bring light to the dangerous, unjust and rogue actions of these ICE officials in NYC. We will make our communities’ voices heard in order to bring justice for Eric and Free Gaspar. We stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters of NYC and are ready to mobilize with them against the cruel and corrupt ICE agency that has gone rogue.” Cristian Moreno, organizer for El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City and member of the #ICEFREENJ campaign.
“Unidad Latina en Acción, ULA NJ, condemns the cowardly and violent crime committed by an ICE officer by shooting an unarmed young man in the face. This must stop. We and other activists will continue to fight, protect, and defend our communities.” Claudia Lopez, Unidad Latina en Acción, ULA-NJ and member of the #ICEFREENJ campaign.
“ICE claims to protect our borders, yet they reign terror on the immigrant community with no accountability. ICE itself moves across borders because they know that here in Hudson County, local leaders would rather profit off the incarceration of Brown and Black bodies than actually fight against Trump’s inhumane deportation machine.” Hector Oseguera, Community Member, “Our community remains vigilant – ICE will not escape accountability for Gaspar’s violent arrest nor Eric’s unjustified shooting and our leaders must be accountable for their complicity.”
“What we’ve seen is a clear escalation of tactics and violence by ICE. This is a retaliation – against immigrant communities, sanctuary cities, and allies unwilling to cower to the Trump administration. We will continue to fight until we free Gaspar and until we abolish ICE.” said Whitney Hu, Sunset Park ICE Watch, and part of the Maimonides Response Coalition.