More than 200 immigrants rights advocates — including local leaders, clergy and residents — gathered Saturday evening for a protest at the corner of Parke Street and Garfield Avenue near Villa Parke in Pasadena, where four men buying tamales were taken away in an ICE raid that morning.
What critics view as abductions should be met by nonviolent outcry to show “how angry we are at these injustices, and how dedicated we are to continue fighting to end them,” said Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, the group that called for the vigil and protest.
From a mobile stage, Las Jornaleros del Norte, a band that performs cumbias at rallies, were flanked by a vendor selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs, people waving California and Mexican flags, and many others holding up signs that read “ICE out of Dena” and “Speak Up for Those Who Can’t.”
Alvarado urged the crowd to continue to protest peacefully, organize rapid response teams in their communities and donate to immigrants rights groups. He reported that six men arrested earlier in an ICE raid on June 18 in Pasadena now have legal representation and one of them has been released.
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, who was at that street corner Saturday morning, returned to tell the crowd that the City Council will meet on Monday to discuss and most likely approve an official statement and go on record decrying what critics call the unconstitutionality and injustice of the raids.
“Pasadena is as resilient and strong as its immigrants,” said Gordo, introducing himself as the immigrant mayor of Pasadena. “We will not allow one man and his policy to break our spirit.”
By Gordo’s side were state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez and Councilmembers Rick Cole, Jess Rivas and Justin Jones. Brandon Lamar, president of the NAACP in Pasadena, was also present.
About 15 members of the Clergy Community Coalition rallied and prayed over the crowd. Rabbi Josh Grater, executive director of Friends in Deed in Pasadena, said he and a fellow rabbi came out on the Sabbath because the danger to people was too great no to help.
Rev. Mark Chase of All Saints Church in Pasadena held up a sign that read, “We Are Human.”
With people chanting “Somos familia,” “We Are Family” and “Juntos Ganaremos” or “Together We Win,” the gathering ended after two hours.
Mayra Macedo-Nolan, of the 200-member Clergy Community Coalition, said the group is mobilizing help to workers afraid to leave their homes and those whose breadwinners have been detained.
“We are not afraid,” she said. “God walks with the undocumented and the detained and the exiled. We, the spiritual leaders of our beloved Pasadena, stand with purpose and defiance. We rally in protest but in love and we will not stop until every family is free.”
Robert Ortiz, 26, walked one block from his apartment to the vigil. He said he found it strange to see so much traffic on the 210 Freeway because of so many people going to the Rose Bowl for a FIFA soccer match.
“I’m here to speak up for those who have no voice, who need our compassion,” he said. “And like they said today, I’m going to go away from here and organize to protect all human life.”
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