Southern Californians and people across the nation, many spurred on by the plight of immigrant children held at detention facilities away from their parents, are gathering at rallies large and small today to bolster a national call for reuniting families separated under the Trump Administrations “zero tolerance” immigration policy.
In addition to the main Families Belong Together rally in Washington D.C., other big marches are coming together in Los Angeles and other major cities.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered near L.A. City Hall for a rally, followed by a march to the federal building. Smaller events throughout the region also are planned in Burbank, Irvine, Pasadena and other cities.
Hundreds oppose immigrant families being separated during a protest rally in front of Los Angeles City Hall #FamiliesBelongTogetherMarch #photography #trump #usa @ladailynews #nikonusa #leica pic.twitter.com/dxnOy1mpRJ
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) June 30, 2018
At L.A. City Hall, protesters arrived to find a sign embracing the “zero tolerance” border policy hung on a pillar. Police pulled down the sign.
The person who placed the sign there said he didnt oppose reunification of families, but supported enforcing the border better, to keep people who arent authorized from crossing over.
Not far away, a protester donned a jacket poking fun at a garment worn by Melania Trump last week. The first lady wore a green, hooded military jacket from the fast-fashion brand Zara that read “I really dont care, do u?” both as she departed and returned to Washington from a trip to immigrant processing sites. The protesters coat said: “Yes, I do care, dont you?”
Congressman Alan Lowenthal speaking at the immigration rally in Long Beach on Saturday morning. pic.twitter.com/ZMtZgxOxxf
— Brittany Murray (@BrittanyMMurray) June 30, 2018
At Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach, a large throng of protesters gathered early. “Dont fall for the false narrative that immigrants are criminals,” said Jonathan Solorzano of the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition.
At the detention center where immigrants are living, “we saw institutionalized child abuse,” Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D–Long Beach) told the crowd.
In Riverside, sign-waving demonstrators lined the boulevard along the Galleria at Tyler mall. “I am here supporting the kids,” said Rosa Gascoigne of Beaumont.
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“Stop pretending your racism is patriotism,” Arohi Sharma, 28, wrote on a swiftly created sign during a protest in Redondo Beach early Saturday. Photo: Shannon Hoffman
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Protesters gather in Laguna Beach early Saturday to protest Trump Administration immigration policies. Photo: Roxana Kopetman, SCNG
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“We saw institutionalized child abuse,” US Rep. Alan Lowenthal said of U.S. detention centers, speaking at a rally in Long Beach early Saturday. Photo: Louis Casiano
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Marchers take to the streets in Long Beach to protest the Trump Administrations immigration policies early Saturday. Photo: Louis Casiano
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Rosa Gascoigne, of Beaumont, hoists signs near the Galleria at Tyler mall in Riverside early Saturday. Photo: Jennifer Maher, SCNG
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Protesters opposing the separation of immigrant families gather in Downtown Los Angeles early Saturday. Photo: Keith Birmingham, SCNG
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Protesters gather in front of Los Angeles City Hall early Saturday. Photo: Keith Birmingham
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Protesters gather their signs at Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach early Saturday. Photo: Louis Casiano
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Rachel Olivarez-Sellers of Denver dons a thermal blanket during an immigration rally and protest in Civic Center Park Saturday, June 30, 2018, in downtown Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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A young child holds a sign during the rally to protest the Trump administrations immigration policies Saturday, June 30, 2018, in New York, New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)
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Activists shout during the rally to protest the Trump administrations immigration policies Saturday, June 30, 2018, in New York, New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)
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Activists gather to protest the Trump administrations approach to illegal border crossings and separation of children from immigrant parents in Lafayette Square across from the White House, Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Activists gather to protest the Trump administrations approach to illegal border crossings and separation of children from immigrant parents in Lafayette Square across from the White House, Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Activists gather to protest the Trump administrations approach to illegal border crossings and separation of children from immigrant parents in Lafayette Square across from the White House, Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Protesters chant slogans outside a Federal court during a demonstration calling for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and demand changes in U.S. immigration policies, Friday, June 29, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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In San Bernardino, hundreds of protestors gathered in front of a Department of Homeland Security building, chanting “free the children” and encouraging drivers to honk. Organizers said at least 250 people signed up for the march, but at least 400 were on site about noon.
In Redondo Beach, 16-year-old Kristen Knaus was upset she wasnt able to vote. “I think its awful whats happening,” she said, with her mother and grandmother nearby. “Every little thing helps.”
Marchers gathering at Pasadena City College reflecting pools. #FamiliesBelongTogetherMarch pic.twitter.com/Nm1ts7rvZF
— Natasha Piñon (@natashapinenut) June 30, 2018
With the shoreline providing a stunning backdrop, demonstrators in Laguna Beach chanted “no human is illegal” and “we all care.”
Protests were also planned outside the immigration detention center in Victorville and a U.S. immigration services office in San Bernardino. Counter-protesters with the Los Angeles County for Trump group are planning a rally in Downtown L.A., too.
Group picture at Pasadena City College #FamiiesBelongTogetherMarch pic.twitter.com/CBeyXb5zif
— Natasha Piñon (@natashapinenut) June 30, 2018
Around the U.S.:
- People symbolically wearing foil blankets were among over 4,000 people at a boisterous rally in downtown Denver. U.S. authorities gave similar blankets to children they separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called for swift reunification of children and parents at a Massachusetts immigration rally. “This is about children held in cages,” she said. “This is about mamas who want their children back.”
- In Washington, crowds on Lafayette Square across from the White House chanted “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and hoisted signs in English and Spanish.
- In Dallas, protesters donned white T-shirts and clothing, carried protest signs and gathered in mass outside city hall.
- Protesters sang “shut detention down!” at the kickoff of the New York City march, gathering in sweltering 86-degree morning heat at a Manhattan park.
- Demonstrators gathered on a street corner near Trumps golf resort at Bedminster, New Jersey, waving signs that read “Do you know where our children are?” and “Even the Trump family belongs together.”
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order reversing his administrations practice of separating children from their undocumented parents when they are detained. A federal judge this week ordered U.S. border authorities to reunite separated families within 30 days.
Thousands oppose immigrant families being separated during a protest rally in front of Los Angeles City Hall #FamiliesBelongTogetherMarch #photography #trump #usa @ladailynews #nikonusa #leica #video pic.twitter.com/M798WQZPrd
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) June 30, 2018
“Its a day to be really public with peoples indignation toward what is happening at the border, and the mass violation of human rights of children and adults at the border,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, one of the groups organizing the Los Angeles event.
A variety of groups, not just immigrant rights advocates are taking part, Salas said.
“I believe were going to have the largest demonstration, uniting organizations across sectors and race, working to try to connect as Americans, to make sure immigrants are treated with justice, and so that their families are reunited,” she said.
Barraza said about 350 had signed up for the protest today. About 450 are here now lining both sides of the street. pic.twitter.com/fef495g0lR
— Jennifer Iyer (@Jen_Iyer) June 30, 2018
The City Hall rally is headlined by advocates, actors and such elected officials as Mayor Eric Garcetti and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. The cast of the CW television show “Jane the Virgin,” and Starzs “Vida” will be among the celebrities, along with “Orange is the New Black” actress Laverne Cox.
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Among those planning to take part in the downtown Los Angeles march is Arleta resident Natalie Garcia, who spoke out earlier this month against the Trump Administrations immigration policy, after her father, a green-card-holder, was arrested by ICE agents outside their home. A judge on Friday dismissed the deportation case against her father, who was expected to be released that evening.
RELATED STORY: LA familys immigrant dad detained by ICE one week before Fathers Day
Garcia said her own experience has motivated her to step out onto to the street Saturday to march in support of other families who have been broken apart.
“It affected me as a 32-year old woman ripped away from her dad,” she said. “I cant imagine children being forced into this situation, who have no idea whats going on.”
“The fights not over, even if I have to attend every rally,” she said.
One of the smaller events was pulled together by the Burbank Democratic Club outside Burbank City Hall.
“It was really important for me, for Burbankers to know people share their values,” and to bring together people who believe whats happening at the border is an injustice, club president Josh Goodman said.
Someone yelled out their car window, "you can't stop The Trump. He will prevail."#FamiliesBelongTogetherMarch
— Shannon M. Hoffman (@byShannonM) June 30, 2018
Back downtown, counter-protesters with the Los Angeles County for Trump group plan to rally from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at 535 North Alameda Street.
“If were going to talk about keeping families together, the focus should be on Americans,” said Torrance resident Arthur Schaper, an active opponent of illegal immigration.
“People want to talk about keeping families together, but illegal aliens have separated parents from their children forever,” Schaper said in reference of Americans killed by people residing in the country illegally.
Protestors rally near the Tyler Mall in Riverside as they participate in the nationwide protest against the policy of separating children from their families at the border. #ChildSeparation #KeepingFamiliesTogether pic.twitter.com/0bcWNmSWXw
— Jennifer Maher (@JCMaherPhoto) June 30, 2018
Southern California area gatherings for the official Families Belong Together rallies are taking place today in:
- Burbank, at 10 a.m. outside Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave.
- Claremont, at noon, beginning at Claremont Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd., with the protest taking place at the corner of Indian Hill and Foothill boulevards
- Irvine, 3 p.m. starting at Portola High School, 1200 Merit St. Participants will march to the James A. Musick Facility, a detention center.
- Laguna Beach, at 11 a.m.; attendees will meet near the sandy boardwalk area at Broadway/PCH on Main Beach
- Lancaster, at 10 a.m. at the Lancaster Library, 601 W. Lancaster Blvd.
- Long Beach, at 10 a.m. at Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave.
- Los Angeles, at 11 a.m., outside Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St.
- Pasadena, at noon near the main entrance of Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd.
- Pasadena, at 1:30 p.m. at the Flintridge Center, 236 W. Mountain St., No. 106.
- Redondo Beach, at 11 a.m. at the corner of Artesia Boulevard and Hawthorne Boulevard.
- San Bernardino, at 11 a.m., outside an immigration government building at 655 W. Rialto Ave.
- Victorville, at noon, near the U.S. Federal Penitentiary detention center. Meeting place is the southeast corner of Air Base Road and Phantom East.
Ronnie Veliz, executive director of Somos Familia Valle, said the organization plans a rally, called SFV Liberation Not Deportation, in Van Nuys at 6 p.m. outside Ulysses S. Grant High School at 1300 Oxnard St. The event is not currently connected to the official Families Belong Together series of rallies.
Veliz said the goal is to add an LGBTQ perspective to the immigrant rights conversation.
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The San Fernando Valley-based event grew out of calls by local youth to take action against policies that separate immigrant families, as well as those that affect LGBTQ immigrants who may not have families that are accepting of them.
“We also had many gay and transgender youth who are high school students and middle school students who sent us a message on Instagram and on Facebook saying we need to organize something, I can no longer stay in my house and pretend this isnt happening,” Veliz said.
The Associated Press, staff writers Roxana Kopetman and Jennifer Iyer and contributing writers Natasha Piñon, Shannon Hoffman and Louis Casiano contributed to the story.
Editors Note: Because of an error on the event permit, a previous version of this story included an incorrect address for the Los Angeles County for Trump groups event.
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