‘ICE OUT’ towels distributed before Super Bowl outside Levi’s Stadium

At the entrance of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., activists handed out towels reading “ICE OUT” to attendees. Photos taken by Jason Jones of The Athletic show the towels.

Volunteers reportedly were positioned in different locations to distribute the items. The other side of the towel featured a QR code, urging fans to hold up the “ICE OUT” side of the towel every time a Super Bowl referee throws a penalty flag as “collective penalty flags against ICE.” Contra-ICE, an organization led by musicians and artists, was responsible for towel distribution.

The towels stemmed from concerns around U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at the Super Bowl. In the months leading up to the game, the Department of Homeland Security made public statements that indicated ICE would be present.

“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally,” DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski said. “Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem added that ICE would be “all over” the Super Bowl.

However, the NFL said earlier this week that it did not anticipate ICE activity at Levi’s Stadium.

“There’s no planned ICE enforcement activities,” NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier said. “We are confident of that.”

According to an NBC Bay Area reporter, the “ICE OUT” towels are a peaceful demonstration organized by community members. The initiative is called “Flags in the Stands.”

The back side of the towel depicted a bunny kicking a football, which is trapped inside a block of ice.