Activists Distribute 'ICE OUT' Towels at Super Bowl Outside Levi's Stadium

The towels were part of a protest against planned ICE presence at the big game.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Activists from the group Contra-ICE distributed towels reading 'ICE OUT' to attendees outside Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, ahead of the Super Bowl. The towels featured a QR code urging fans to hold them up as 'collective penalty flags against ICE' whenever referees threw a flag during the game.

Why it matters

The towel distribution was a response to statements made by Department of Homeland Security officials indicating that ICE would have a presence at the Super Bowl, despite the NFL saying there were no planned ICE enforcement activities at the event.

The details

Volunteers positioned themselves at different locations around the stadium entrance to hand out the 'ICE OUT' towels to attendees. The other side of the towel featured a bunny kicking a football trapped in a block of ice. Contra-ICE, an organization led by musicians and artists, was responsible for the towel distribution as a peaceful demonstration called 'Flags in the Stands'.

  • The towels were distributed to attendees outside Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl.

The players

Contra-ICE

An organization led by musicians and artists that was responsible for the 'ICE OUT' towel distribution as a peaceful demonstration.

Corey Lewandowski

A DHS adviser who stated that 'there is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally, not the Super Bowl and nowhere else.'

Kristi Noem

The DHS Secretary who said that ICE would be 'all over' the Super Bowl.

Cathy Lanier

The NFL's chief security officer who said there were no planned ICE enforcement activities at Levi's Stadium.

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What they’re saying

“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally, 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.”

— Corey Lewandowski, DHS Adviser

“ICE will be 'all over' the Super Bowl.”

— Kristi Noem, DHS Secretary

“There's no planned ICE enforcement activities. We are confident of that.”

— Cathy Lanier, NFL Chief Security Officer

What’s next

The activists behind the 'ICE OUT' towel distribution plan to continue their protest efforts during the Super Bowl, encouraging fans to hold up the towels whenever referees throw a penalty flag.

The takeaway

The 'ICE OUT' towel distribution highlights the ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding immigration enforcement at major sporting events, even as the NFL and local authorities claim there are no planned ICE activities. This protest demonstrates the willingness of community groups to take action and voice their opposition to perceived threats of ICE presence.