By Ruth Robterson The San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center (Indybay) Staff
President Donald Trump has threatened mass deportation roundups, starting today. On Friday July 12, in Redwood City, California, demonstrators said it was important to protest the administration's crackdown.
Photos by Charlie Moehle, Pro Bono Photo. Please credit the photographer.
Saying their vigil was a chance to give voice to the immense suffering and loss of people affected by policies that tear apart vulnerable families, a coalition of faith based and social justice groups put together a rally that drew hundreds to Redwood City. The focus of the vigil was the separation of families and extreme mistreatment of children and adults in the detention centers.
Participants in activist group San Francisco Peninsula People Power, part of ACLU's grassroots army, printed resource information for immigrants in Spanish which members of the artistic collective Fools Mission distributed at the rally. Grupo Danza Colibrí and the Raging Grannies started off the event with music; they were followed by speakers who gave their audience much to think about and act on.
Addressing the crowd, Rev. Jorge Bautista, an eyewitness to the horrors on the border, said that prisoners in detention centers are subjected to torture, humiliation and even death. Member of the latinx volunteer community Charo Martinez spoke about the psychological harm to immigrants and their families.
Audience members said they were deeply disturbed by reports of terrible conditions at the border where children are held separated from their parents in detention camps overcrowded and lacking proper food and hygiene. Rally members at the candlelight vigil held in front of the main Redwood City Public Library were moved to donate money to Raices (raicestexas.org) for help at the border and Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (clsepa.org) to help local immigrants.
Most importantly, organizers and participants alike said they felt focused and primed for even bigger protest following the rally. Many said that the calls for more assertive action on the San Francisco Peninsula will not go unheeded.
All photos by Ruth Robertson Sunday Jul 14th, 2019 5:14 AM
Members of San Francisco Peninsula People Power
Pictured here, Carmen is a leader with Faith in Action Bay Area. Another source for help for immigrants in the E. Palo Alto area is Nuestra Casa.
§Rev. Jorge Bautista, Direct Eyewitness to the Camp Horrors
Website here for donations to help at the border, Texas Raices.
§7 Children Have Died in the Camps
Julio Garcia stood with other staff from Nuestra Casa of East Palo Alto to read aloud names of the 7 children who have recently died due to conditions in U.S. immigration detention camps.
§Two San Mateo Peace Action Members Stand Under a Jail Trump Sign
Paul Bocanegra, Criminal Justice advocate, speaks about "de-funding for-profit prisons and immigrant concentration camps in California."
§City Council Member Diana Reddy
§Some protesters spread around the corner
Faith In Action Bay Area was key in making this event happen. Redwood City Council Member Diana Reddy is a veteran leader of the group. Here we see two people of the cloth.
§Sequoia H.S. Dream Club Member
Granny Gail, second granny from left spoke from the mic. She said the Grannies need a new adjective as they are no longer just pissed off, they are horrified.
§Brian Perkins, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier
The Congresswoman was at the border visiting detention camps this very day. It was her second trip.
§Matching T-shirts, Spanish/English
Author Julie Lythcott-Haims, left, and Kris Brocan are eye-witnesses to the atrocities at the Clint detention center in Texas where child immigrants are being jailed separately from their families. Together with other volunteers they run Caravan to Clint that helps concerned people visit the camp, deliver supplies, and protest in Clint and nearby El Paso.
