Protesters Disrupt Super Bowl Festivities with ‘ICE OUT’ Demonstration
Santa Clara, California – Roads surrounding Levi Stadium became a focal point of protest on Sunday as hundreds of demonstrators, many inspired by the cultural impact of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, voiced their opposition to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The demonstrations took place just hours before the NFL championship game, pitting the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots.
Marching through the streets adjacent to the stadium, protesters proudly displayed banners emblazoned with the defiant slogan “ICE OUT.” This powerful message directly echoed a political statement made by Bad Bunny himself during his recent Grammy Awards acceptance speech, where he clinched the Album of the Year award.
Shasti Conrad, a lead organizer of the event, explained the strategic choice to align their activism with a major cultural moment like the Super Bowl. “The Super Bowl is one of the most powerful cultural moments in the country, where music, competition, and identity all collide,” Conrad stated. “We’ve seen at the Golden Globes and the Grammys how artists like Bad Bunny are using these stages to say something bigger about who we are and what we stand for. This action builds on that momentum. Culture often leads politics, and moments like this show how people are using joy, creativity, and visibility to push back against ICE and demand a country that truly lives up to its promise to welcome immigrants.”
The timing of the protest also coincided with public remarks from former President Donald Trump, who had indicated he would be abstaining from watching the Super Bowl this year due to the inclusion of Bad Bunny in the halftime entertainment lineup.
When questioned by reporters about President Trump’s viewing preferences for the halftime show, White House press secretary Leavitt commented, “I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny. I must say that.” This statement highlighted a clear political divide regarding the artists chosen for the event.
A collective known as Contra-ICE played a significant role in the demonstration, distributing approximately 25,000 white towels to fans attending the game. These towels were branded with the “ICE OUT” message, encouraging widespread participation in the visual protest. Demonstrators were observed waving these towels and banners that explicitly called for the “abolition” of ICE, urging lawmakers to dismantle the agency.
Despite the presence of protesters, the atmosphere around Levi Stadium, several hours before kickoff, remained largely relaxed. Fans fortunate enough to secure tickets for the highly anticipated game were observed enjoying the celebratory pre-game ambiance.
Bad Bunny, whose legal name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, ultimately chose not to incorporate overt political commentary into his 13-minute Super Bowl performance. Earlier in the week, during a press conference in San Francisco, he addressed the anticipated backlash from supporters of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. He expressed confidence that his performance would be well-received, stating, “The world is going to be happy this Sunday, (as well as) the whole country. There’s a lot of people that love me around the world, not just the Latino people.”
He further elaborated on the significance of performing on such a global stage: “To be on the biggest stage in the world is something that I never thought (possible). You always have to be proud of who you are and feel comfortable being yourself, being proud about your history and where you are from and don’t let that limit yourself. A lot of people stop me at the street or the airport, Americans in the United States, Mexico, French and say ‘I know you’re going to do a great performance at the Super Bowl.’”
Adding to the artistic counter-narrative, the band Green Day, also known for their anti-MAGA stance, was scheduled to perform in the pre-game show. Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong had previously voiced his opposition to the Trump administration during a concert, even altering the lyrics of their hit song “American Idiot” to “I’m not part of a MAGA agenda.”
Former President Trump had publicly criticized the selection of both Bad Bunny and Green Day, asserting that their performances would “sow hatred.” Notably, Trump was absent from this year’s Super Bowl in California, a departure from his attendance at the previous year’s championship in New Orleans, where he made history as the first sitting U.S. President to attend the event.
In response to the mainstream entertainment choices, the right-wing political organization Turning Point USA organized its own alternative event, dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring artists such as Kid Rock.
On the football field, the Seattle Seahawks were considered the favorites to defeat the New England Patriots. The Patriots were making their first Super Bowl appearance since the dominant era of quarterback Tom Brady.
