Eyes on ICE is a coalition that was established in response to the opening of Delaney Hall in 2025. Their mission is the following: “The assembled organizations and individuals of this coalition oppose Delaney Hall and the unjust operations of ICE through nonviolence, mutual aid, radical hospitality, and interfaith cooperation until this facility ceases operations.”

Caption: Posters proclaiming the Eyes on ICE coalition tent at Delaney Hall as a space of Radical Hospitality. Photo: Amanda Sweeney.

The center of Eyes on ICE’s efforts is a tent located outside Delaney Hall. This tent, implemented by the local government, serves as a space where visitors can ask questions and receive warm food, beverages, and other necessities. Not only does the tent offer radical hospitality in one of the most dystopian settings in Newark, but it also symbolizes resistance against the carceral state which includes all forms of violence and oppression.

While reflecting on the past semester I often struggled emotionally with the material. I grappled with the question of what abolition really looks like if activists are only met with reform and not complete change. I found it challenging to reject anything except for the concept of abolition. To achieve meaningful change, we must be willing to reject small victories and illusions that only cater to our immediate interests. By embracing a broader perspective, we can focus on the greater good, ensuring that our efforts lead to lasting progress. We must not settle for low hanging fruit offered by the elite. True change often demands sacrifice and the courage to forgo short-term gratifications in pursuit of something far more significant.

Personally, this concept is challenging for me to understand. So, how can we explain it to others who are new to mutual aid and abolition? This idea is one that requires a lot of time to fully grasp and explore this concept. I am not certain that I fully grasp this concept, but it is important to remain open. This is something that cannot be forced but encouraged and cultivated with time and patience.

Link to zine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VQs4cumdEuesAVOz2skPvhPvuiCfxnJg/view?usp=sharing