As the Super Bowl rolls into the Bay Area, a different kind of showdown is unfolding on the streets of San Francisco — and it has nothing to do with football.
A bold pro-ICE billboard near Fisherman’s Wharf has triggered outrage among local activists, unions, and immigration groups.
The digital sign, funded by American Sovereignty, depicts a uniformed immigration officer hoisting a trophy and praises him as the “Defensive Player of the Year” — a not-so-subtle nod to the NFL championship game being played this weekend just down the road at Levi’s Stadium.
According to ABC 7 reporter Suzanne Phan, the reaction has been “mixed,” though critics were far louder than supporters in interviews aired Tuesday morning.
One man who backed the message stood nearly alone.“They have a job to do too, you know. I don’t have a problem with ’em,” he told Phan.
Others weren’t nearly as calm. “It made me sick to my stomach,” one woman said.
While San Francisco activists fumed, the outrage spilled south to San Jose, where Phan reported that “dozens” of protesters marched Monday to denounce Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The crowd included labor unions and immigrant advocacy groups demanding ICE stay out of the Bay Area — Super Bowl week or otherwise.
Michelle Merrill, a Santa Clara resident living near the stadium, claimed the presence of ICE has residents on edge. “I’m worried for my neighbors. I’m worried for what is happening, and I’m worried to see it escalating here,” Merrill said.
Another protester, speaking in Spanish, accused federal agents of intimidation. His words were relayed by a translator. “It’s important for the community to be here, because it is injustice to have federal agents terrorizing communities,” the translator said.
Several demonstrators also took aim at President Donald Trump’s enforcement of immigration law, blasting his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration — a policy widely supported by conservatives nationwide.
Phan reported that the controversial billboard was paid for by American Sovereignty, a group Fox News says is backing a multi-million-dollar ad blitz in support of ICE officers and border enforcement.
Meanwhile, as activists rage over a billboard, football fans are preparing for kickoff. The New England Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. PT — whether protesters like it or not.
