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Dover jail preparing for ICE protest march that ends there tomorrow

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Solidarity marchers protesting ICE on Day 3 of their trek through the North Shore en route to Dover. (Karen Elliott Greisdorf photo)

DOVER - As many as several hundred anti-ICE protesters are expected to converge on the Strafford County House of Corrections on Saturday, but the jail's superintendent said today if it's like last year's iteration, it will remain peaceful and respectful.

The jail currently holds about 98 Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, who are brought in by either ICE or Customs and Border Patrol agents.

The "Solidarity Pilgrimage for Immigrant Justice" is being organized by Essex County Community Organization of Massachusetts. On their website they say the walk is to "denounce the racist immigration system that dehumanizes Muslim, Black and Brown bodies for profit, cages children and causes death."

The walk began Monday at the JFK Federal Building in Boston and leaves on Saturday morning from the Lee traffic Circle for the final 10-mile leg of their journey to the Strafford County Department of Corrections in Dover.

The walkers from Boston will connect with similarly minded delegations from Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire as they near the Dover facility.

A major prop of the event is a child-sized coffin to represent several immigrant children who died while in ICE custody this year.

Brackett said last year's pilgrimage was peaceful, and despite the recent storming of an ICE facility in Colorado in which protester pulled down the U.S. flag, he expects this year's to be the same.

"I anticipate a peaceful vigil rather than a protest," said Brackett, who estimated last year's attendance at around 75.

Inmates may be able to see the rally, but they might not be able to hear any speakers as the area set up for the vigil is more than 100 yards from the jail.

Brackett said tents and port-a-potties will be available for the comfort of the group.

"This is all about their right to peacefully protest as they choose," Brackett said, adding he expects no interaction between the group and jail personnel or other law enforcement agencies.

He said the Strafford County Sheriff's Office was in charge of the application process submitted by the Essex County Community Organization.

Other law enforcement agencies are also involved in strategic planning for the event, including Dover and New Hampshire State Police, Strafford County Sheriff David Dubois said today.

He added that the Sheriff's Office has been assured by group leadership that the protest will be a peaceful one.

The Essex County Community Organization was not immediately available for comment.

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