Super Bowl Targeted by Anti-ICE Protest with Mass Towel Distribution
Protestors are planning a dramatic disruption of the Super Bowl this Sunday, staging a high-profile demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the championship game in Santa Clara. An organisation calling itself Contra-ICE is distributing 25,000 white towels branded with the slogan 'ICE OUT' around Levi's Stadium, encouraging fans to wave them during the match between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Protestors Gather Near Stadium Inspired by Bad Bunny
The protestors assembled on Sunday morning at the Hilton Santa Clara Hotel, located just a five-minute walk from the stadium. Lead organiser Shasti Conrad explained in a detailed statement that the group was partly motivated by Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny, who publicly declared 'ICE out' during his Grammy Awards speech last weekend after winning Album of the Year.
'The Super Bowl represents one of the most powerful cultural moments in the nation, where music, competition, and identity all converge,' Conrad emphasised. 'We have witnessed at events like the Golden Globes and the Grammys how artists such as Bad Bunny are utilising these platforms to make broader statements about our values and identity.'
Conrad further elaborated: 'This action builds on that existing momentum. Culture frequently leads politics, and moments like this demonstrate how people are employing joy, creativity, and visibility to resist ICE and demand a country that genuinely fulfills its promise to welcome immigrants.'
Relaxed Atmosphere Before Kickoff Amid Political Tensions
Despite the planned protest, the atmosphere remained relaxed approximately three hours before the game's commencement, with fortunate fans enjoying the celebratory party atmosphere leading up to kickoff. However, tensions persist surrounding Bad Bunny's impending halftime performance. The Puerto Rican rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has remained ambiguous about whether he will reiterate his anti-ICE stance during the show.
During a Super Bowl press conference in San Francisco earlier this week, Bad Bunny did not address the MAGA backlash against his performance but confidently asserted: 'The world will be happy after my 13-minute show concludes. The world is going to be happy this Sunday, as well as the whole country.' He added: 'There are many people who love me globally, not solely Latino individuals. To perform on the world's largest stage is something I never imagined possible. You must always be proud of who you are, feel comfortable being yourself, and take pride in your history and origins without letting them limit you.'
Additional Political Statements from Pre-Game Performers
Another anti-MAGA band, Green Day, is scheduled to perform during the pre-game show. Earlier this week, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong criticised the Trump administration during a concert and has previously altered lyrics to their hit song 'American Idiot' to: 'I'm not part of a MAGA agenda.' Former President Donald Trump has condemned the selection of both Bad Bunny and Green Day, claiming they will 'sow hatred.'
Trump is not attending the California showdown, despite becoming the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend a Super Bowl last year in New Orleans. In response, the right-wing political organisation Turning Point USA has organised an alternative 'All-American Halftime Show' featuring artists including Kid Rock.
Football Context and Game Expectations
On the sporting front, the Seattle Seahawks are favoured to defeat the New England Patriots, who are making their first Super Bowl appearance since the dominant era of quarterback Tom Brady. The protest adds a significant political dimension to one of America's most-watched sporting events, highlighting ongoing national debates over immigration and cultural expression.
