Levi’s Stadium is not only the epicenter of American soccer today; it has become a political and social battleground.
While the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks dispute the Vince Lombardi Trophy, outside the stadium, the activist group “Contra-ICE” has deployed a massive mobilization that seeks to turn the stands into a platform of protest against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Towels with a message: “ICE Out” hits the stands
In Santa Clara, California, volunteers from the “Contra-ICE” movement handed out towels with the inscription “ICE OUT” among Super Bowl attendees.
The initiative is part of the “Flags in the Grandstands” cultural action in protest against ICE in the country.
Video: AFP pic.twitter.com/WEvkD8pp4U
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Fans entering the stadium were greeted by volunteers handing out towels with the slogan “ICE Out”.
The design, initially captured and disseminated by The Athletic, includes a powerful symbolic charge: the image of a rabbit (in clear reference to Bad Bunny) kicking a soccer that breaks a block of ice (a play on words with the acronym of the immigration agency).
Most relevant to those in attendance is the QR code printed on the fabric. By scanning it, the pro-immigrant group instructs spectators to show the message toward the field of play every time the referees signal a penalty.
The objective is clear: to synchronize the protest with game breaks to maximize visibility on the international broadcast cameras.
Context of tension: Mourning after Minneapolis raids
This protest is not happening in a vacuum. The Hispanic community in the U.S. is facing one of its most critical moments due to the government’s current immigration crackdown.
Tensions escalated dramatically after the events that took place last January in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by ICE agents during immigration raids.
These raids, deployed mainly in Democratic-leaning states, have been described by human rights organizations as “violent” and “politically motivated,” generating a climate of fear and resistance that today carries over to the country’s largest sporting event.
Between the “Bad Rabbit” and Green Day: The Trump Boycott
The choice of artists for the halftime show has been the gasoline that ended up igniting the controversy.
The presence of Bad Bunny, a figure who has used his platform to denounce social injustices, along with Green Day, a band known for their openly anti-Trump stances, caused the president himself to reverse his decision to attend the stadium.
Trump called the musical selection a “lousy choice,” a stance that has been backed by conservative sectors who, like Eduardo Verástegui, see the show as a “progressive agenda” that eclipses sports.
Useful information for the community
For the U.S. Hispanic reader, this event highlights the importance of knowing your rights.
In the face of increased ICE presence in public spaces and raids:
Stay calm: Do not run or physically resist.
Right to remain silent: You are not required to disclose your immigration status without the presence of an attorney.
Do not sign documents: Never sign anything without fully understanding the contents or without legal advice.
Super Bowl LX will be remembered not only for the plays on the field, but for being the moment when activism took advantage of the world’s biggest spotlight to demand justice for victims on the border and in the interior of the country.
