Englewood, CO – On June 6, jetCenters of Colorado held a fundraiser at Centennial Airport, one of their three aviation operations along the Front Range. jetCenters, which provides aeronautical services such as fueling and aircraft rental and maintenance, holds a sublease with Key Lime Air, an airline that, according to government data and flight trackers, runs detainee flights for ICE.

The Aurora Unidos CSO (AUCSO), which helped organize the week of action, views the airline as “profiting off of human suffering.”

The jetCenters fundraiser had hundreds of attendees and even had the Denver Broncos mascot make an appearance. Other sponsors of the fundraiser included Modern Aviation, Boom Supersonic and Signature Aviation.

Organizers and activists from AUCSO, Bread and Roses Legal Center, Denver People’s March, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Immigrant Partnership Team (IPT), and Jewish Voice for Peace partnered together for a demonstration in resistance to the continued collaboration between jetCenters and Key Lime Air. The action comes as the conclusion to a week of action against deportation flights in Colorado. Protesters’ speeches condemned jetCenters, Key Lime Air and the deportation flights.

“Key Lime Air CEO Cliff Honeycutt has repeatedly ignored calls to even acknowledge his company’s profiting from human suffering, trying to hide behind a thin shield of respectability and trying to dismiss any outcry to his profiting off of cruelty as simply ‘politics,’” said Jordyn Merritt from IPT, “But it is not just a political statement to say that Key Lime Air makes money off of acts of cruelty; it is a fact, corroborated by human rights organizations and flight trackers across the nation.”

According to Katherine Draken of FRSO, who shared public data with the crowd, “Key Lime Air is confirmed under contract with CSI Aviation, one of the largest federal contractors for ICE flights. They have a $563 million contract with the Department of Homeland Security, and Key Lime Air is responsible for up to 11% of ICE’s deportation [flights].” Draken urged the audience to stand in solidarity with immigrants in the wake of the recent victory in Connecticut against Avelo Airlines’ $150 million contract with ICE.

Yoselin Corrales of AUCSO reminded the crowd of the inappropriate use of funds and how this movement is for all people, stating, “Our tax dollars could be funding education, housing, food accessibility, healthcare, and yet we are seeing it used to perpetuate the suffering of the community that we grew up in, were raised in, and are a part of. We see our family, our neighbors, and our friends being terrorized on a regular basis and we say no more!”

Two days after the protest, Denver City Council voted to pass an ordinance that could potentially be used to kick air carriers that operate deportation flights out of Denver International Airport. While AUCSO considers the ordinance to be a minor victory, they also say that the fight is far from over, and they urge the community to get involved in any way they can.

#EngelwoodCO #CO #ImmigrantRights #KeyLimeAir #Deportations #ICE #AuroraCO #AUCSO

Carlos Montes es un líder reconocido a nivel nacional en el movimiento chicano, de derechos de los migrantes y en la lucha contra la guerra. Fue cofundador de los Boinas Cafés (Brown Berets), una organización chicana de la clase trabajadora en Estados Unidos a finales de los años 1960 y 1970. Los Boinas Cafés se inspiraron y a menudo fueron comparados con el Partido de las Panteras Negras (Black Panther Party). 

Montes fue uno de los líderes de las huelgas chicanas de 1968 en el Este de Los Ángeles, una serie de huelgas estudiantiles en las preparatorias del Este de Los Ángeles. Él fue interpretado por Fidel Gómez en la película de HBO “Walkout” de 2006. Montes fue uno de los “ELA 13” acusados por un gran jurado por conspiración para interrumpir el distrito escolar de Los Ángeles. Con los Boinas Cafés, Montes organizó la primera protesta de la Moratoria Chicana contra la guerra en Vietnam en el Este de Los Ángeles el 20 de diciembre de 1969.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste! se reunió con Carlos Montes para saber por qué las fuerzas de derechos de los inmigrantes se están movilizando para la Cumbre del Suroeste Contra las Deportaciones el 12 y 13 de abril en Los Ángeles, California.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¡Bienvenido, Carlos! Cuéntanos un poco sobre ti y cómo te uniste al movimiento.

Carlos Montes: Me uní al movimiento cuando la lucha por los derechos chicanos estaba creciendo. Me motivó el Movimiento de la Liberación Negra. Haber crecido enfrentando acoso policial me llevó a involucrarme. Solo soy un chico del pueblo fronterizo de Juárez [Texas], y aquí sigo – organizando por la educación pública, los derechos de los inmigrantes, contra la brutalidad policial y luchando por nuestras comunidades.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cuáles son los principales ataques que enfrentan los inmigrantes en este momento?

Montes: La punta de lanza son los arrestos y deportaciones de ICE en todo el país. Aquí en el sur de California, desde el 23 de febrero, están enfocándose principalmente en comunidades chicanas, latinas y algunas asiáticas de clase trabajadora. La Secretaria de Seguridad Nacional apareció en televisión nacional en español amenazando: “Regresen”, o si no. Están arrestando a residentes legales, personas que llevan años aquí. ICE, DHS y el FBI están usando autos sin identificación, vigilando casas, sembrando miedo.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cómo podemos luchar contra esto?

Montes: Aquí en Boyle Heights, Centro CSO está haciendo recorridos por los barrios puerta a puerta con información de conoce-tus-derechos para resistir a ICE. En LA, la Coalición de Autodefensa Comunitaria va a las redadas y grita con megáfonos: “¡No salgan!” Les recordamos a la gente sus derechos. En algunos casos, ICE se va. Desde febrero, miles han salido – como las 15,000 a 20,000 personas en LA que marcharon por toda la ciudad, el ayuntamiento e incluso en la carretera, regresando luego a Boyle Heights. El 8 y 17 de febrero marchamos desde comunidades chicanas inmigrantes de clase trabajadora hacia el centro de la ciudad. Estudiantes de preparatoria lideraron paros escolares durante varias semanas. La comunidad está saliendo a protestar.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Por qué debe la gente movilizarse para la cumbre?

Montes: Es importante que todos los activistas por los derechos de los inmigrantes vengan, tengan una voz unida, un frente unido. Esta conferencia nacional iniciada por la Red Legalización para Todos denunciará los ataques de Trump y DHS contra los inmigrantes. Los chicanos y los trabajadores están bajo ataque – y están luchando y resistiendo. Esto es histórico. En los años 60 y 70, en el auge del movimiento chicano, tuvimos las conferencias de MEChA, El Plan de Santa Bárbara y las Conferencias Nacionales de Liberación de la Juventud Chicana en Denver. Ahora tendremos madres, jóvenes, gente de todos los ámbitos asistiendo a la cumbre.

Es una oportunidad para conocer activistas jóvenes y mayores, aprender unos de otros, unirse y compartir tácticas. Por eso estamos planificando arduamente – las inscripciones están aumentando.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Cuál es el significado de realizar la conferencia en Boyle Heights y en el Este de LA?

Montes: El Este de LA es una comunidad chicana que siempre ha luchado por la justicia – contra la guerra, contra el abuso policial, por la educación, contra el Sheriff del ELA. Boyle Heights es un barrio inmigrante de clase trabajadora con historia de resistencia. En los años 30 y 40 resistieron deportaciones y ataques militares racistas durante los Zoot Suit Riots. En los años 50 lucharon contra las carreteras que desplazaban familias. En los años 60 los estudiantes se levantaron contra el abuso policial y la guerra en Vietnam. Hoy luchan contra la gentrificación, altas tasas de COVID, y ICE. Sindicatos como el de maestros, las familias de las víctimas de asesinatos policiales, y comunidades negras y morenas se solidarizan aquí.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Qué podemos esperar en la conferencia?

Montes: Elvira Arellano, quien inició el movimiento de santuario en Chicago hace años, fue deportada y regresó – ella va a hablar. La hija de Jeanette Vizguerra también vendrá. Tendremos a Amerika García Grewal de Eagle Pass hablando, ahí es donde el gobernador Abbott ha tomado control de las zonas fronterizas federales. Grupos como MIRAC, Unión del Barrio, UTLA, Proyecto Pastoral y Colorado CSO liderarán paneles sobre cómo luchar y resistir. Rafael Avitia de La Mesa Brown Berets también hablará. Habrá talleres y una gran conferencia de prensa llamando por protestas masivas y un paro de trabajadores inmigrantes para el Primero de Mayo.

Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Un mensaje final para la gente?

Montes: Vengan al Este de LA el 12 de abril – donde el movimiento chicano luchó contra la guerra, la policía, y por la educación pública – y a Boyle Heights el 13 de abril – donde resistimos a ICE, las carreteras, y la gentrificación. Esta conferencia será histórica. La llenaremos de gente, como en los viejos tiempos. ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!

Para registrarse para la Cumbre del Suroeste para Detener las Deportaciones, visite:  https://tinyurl.com/summitagainstdeportations

 #ImmigrantRights #Trump #Deportations #CentroCSO #CarlosMontes #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #L4A

Chicago, IL – The streets of Little Village in Chicago were filled with the sounds of drums and voices, February 8, as a crowd of 1500 people of all ages moved through this historic Mexicano/Chicano neighborhood.

Marchers representing a coalition of 30 organizations came together in response to the call by the Legalization for All Network for national days of action to stop the attacks on immigrants.

Angel Naranjos, a student from the University of Illinois – Chicago who grew up in Little Village, opened the rally on behalf of the Immigrant Rights Working Committee of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).

Naranjos stated, “We’re gathered here today to protest the attacks on people who only came here searching for a better life. We’re witnessing some of the broadest attacks on immigrants in our lifetimes. People who are here to work are being attacked by a racist, reactionary Republican administration. It’s up to us to build a visible and powerful resistance. It’s up to us to show that when we get into the streets, when we fight, we can win.”

“We are an army”

Kobi Guillory of CAARPR and the Chicago Teachers Union spoke of growing up in South Africa, stating, “The racism that made Black people poor in South Africa, that keeps them poor is the same racism against Black people in Englewood, and the same racism I see targeting people right here in Little Village.”

Guillory also said about this movement against the attacks from the White House, “We are an army. If any one of us is attacked, all of us are going to fight back!”

Other organizations in the protest included Chicago Community and Workers Rights; Familia Latina Unida; Kabataan Alliance, a new network of Filipino organizations to fight Trump; Freedom Road Socialist Organization; and Students for a Democratic Society – UIC. With Aldermen Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward) and Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward), everyone came together for visible resistance to the Trump attacks on Chicago and its immigrant community.

Chicago singled out by Trump

Trump has singled out Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson because of the strength of the movement in this city. Trump’s “Border Czar” Tom Homan has even complained that ICE has been unable to terrorize the community here because the people in Chicago are organized and know their rights.

But the limited attacks here and numerous attacks across the country are still traumatic. Dr. Mercedes Martinez of the League of United Latin American Citizens explained the psychological impact of separation of families, stating, “The inhumane treatment of our people is absolutely devastating. It will cause lifelong problems. The abandonment, the separation, causes anxiety.”

“White supremacists erase the true history of the U.S.”

Nazek Sankari of the US Palestinian Community Network, a familiar figure from leading many scores of protests in Chicago against the Zionist genocide in Gaza since October 2023, also spoke.

Sankari stated, “These last 19 days, there has been a slew of executive orders targeting immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ community and women. This is an attempt by these bigoted white supremacists to erase the true history of the U.S., founded on genocide.

“These same white supremacist forces are waging a genocide on Gaza. One executive order even threatens to deport the brave international students who participated in the student uprisings in solidarity with the Palestinian people last spring.”

“This is our land. We’re ready to struggle!”

Four buses of immigrant workers and their families came from the Casa DuPage Workers Center in the west suburbs to join the march, with many banners, bullhorns and drums. Cristobal Cavazos of Casa DuPage said of this movement, “We have a new consciousness. We have new self-respect and dignity. We’re workers. We’re replacing the chip that we’re illegals, that we’re criminals, that we don’t belong here.”

Cavazos continued, “This is our land. We’re ready to struggle!”

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #Trump #Deportations #NAARPR #CAARPR #USPCN #CTU #L4A

Minneapolis, MN – 130 U of MN Twin Cities students and supporters gathered outside of the Student Union in the windy, freezing weather on Thursday, February 6, to demand safety for all immigrant and international students on campus.

Shortly after the university announced they plan to comply with ICE orders on campus, UMN SDS announced an emergency rally and march to call for a “Sanctuary Campus” where undocumented students and faculty are protected from the threat of deportation from federal authorities. This message was echoed throughout the various speeches and on signs in the crowd, including, “School is for education, nor deportation” and “My dreams are bigger than your walls.”

After initial chants of “Up, up with liberation; down, down with deportations” rang through the crowd, the first speaker kicked off the protest by repeatedly reminding everyone that “all persons in the United States have Constitutional protections.”

Dr. Montes of the University of Minnesota’s Chicano Studies Department emphasized that students should create a safety plan by sharing emergency contacts with friends and loved ones, as well making sure to understand they have the right to remain silent. If an ICE officer or other official does not have a warrant signed by a judge, people do not have to answer questions or go with them.

After a few more speakers continued to carry on the messages that immigrants belong in the U.S. and on Minnesota campuses, the group walked down Washington Avenue behind banners that read “Stop the deportations; sanctuary campus now” and “Students against the racist reactionary Republican agenda.”

A quick stop outside the UMN Police Station allowed for Emilio César Rodríguez, a UMN student who is running for city council in Ward 3, to speak about the North STAR Act, which prohibits local and state officials from collaborating with federal immigrant officials. It would safeguard immigrants throughout Minnesota as a whole – making it a sanctuary state. The march ended outside of McNamara Alumni Center where three more speakers concluded the rally.

Other groups within the U of MN campus have also called for ICE off campus and for the administration to ensure the rights of student immigrants.

Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS), Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and Mi Gente are three UMN student groups that have upcoming events focused on immigrant rights.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #StudentMovement #SDS #MIRAC #MALCS #MiGente #Trump #Deportations #Feature

ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has just announced that they would start to round up thousands of undocumented immigrants in cities across the United States. They plan to separate even more families and deport long-term U.S. residents whose only crime is to try to provide a better life for their families. Their purpose is to terrorize our communities and rally anti-immigrant support for Trump’s 2020 campaign. This is another outrage by the Trump administration. No raids, no deportations, no family separations!

There is a crisis at the border – one that the United States and the Trump administration has created. Years of U.S. free trade and regime change policies have been a disaster for Central American countries. Central American refugees, many if not most of them women and children, are fleeing violence so bad that even the U.S. State Department has advised U.S. tourists not to go there! Thousands of refugees, many of whom are children, are being held in concentration camps at the border, and more and more are dying in detention. The administration says that they lack resources to properly care for the refugees – but they have enough money to carry out raids throughout the United States. We say, “Asylum for refugees. End the border concentration camps. No increase in border funding for ICE/CBP [Customs and Border Patrol]!”

The typical undocumented immigrant has been living in the United States for 13 years or more. Millions of them have U.S.-born citizen children or immigrant children who have known no other home than the United States. They come to work and to better the lives of their children – just as other immigrants have done for generations. We support the legalization of the DREAMERS, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and others with temporary visas. We say, “Legalization for all!”

Trump is a bigot who is trying to demonize and dehumanize refugees, claiming that they are criminals, drug dealers and rapists. He is racist who has referred to Central American and African countries as “shitholes.” First he launched an attack on Muslims with his travel ban, now it is Central Americans and Mexicans who are his target. He claims that immigrants and refugees are coming to take jobs but the cities with the most immigrants have the lowest unemployment rates.

We ask you and your organizations to protest the planned raids and lend all assistance possible to those who are caught in the Trump administration dragnet.

Legalization for All (L4A) Network

NO RAIDS, NO DEPORTATIONS, NO FAMILY SEPARATIONS!

END THE BORDER CONCENTRATION CAMPS, ASYLUM FOR REFUGEES, NO INCREASE IN BORDER FUNDING FOR ICE/CBP!

LEGALIZATION FOR ALL!

#UnitedStates #International #OppressedNationalities #US #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #deportations #ImmigrationAndCustomEnforcementICE #LegalizationForAllNetwork #DonaldTrump

Tallahassee, FL – Community members and students gathered in front of the Old Tallahassee Capitol, June 19, to protest the planned mass deportation of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, from the Dominican Republic.

The protest was organized by Black Liberation Action Coordinating Committee (BLACC), Haitian Lives Do Matter, and Recycle4Haiti Foundation Inc.

The protest attracted 15 supporters of the Haitian community, who stood at the intersection of Monroe Street and Appalachee waving signs. Afterwards, the protesters moved to the capitol steps, where they chanted “No human is illegal,” and “Haitian Dominicans are Dominicans.”

Regina Joseph of BLACC told the crowd “The Dominican Republic and Haiti are divided because of Western imperialism.”

Selestria de La Cruz, a member of BLACC, stated “We need to call the embassy of the Dominican Republic and boycott any travel or purchases from the Dominican Republic. We cannot support the economy of a country that does not support its people.”

#TallahasseeFL #ImmigrantRights #Haiti #deportations #Antiracism #BlackLiberationActionCoordinatingCommittee #BLACC #HaitianLivesDoMatter #DominicanRepublic #Americas

Tampa, FL – More than 50 people gathered outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Ybor, a Tampa neighborhood, May 1. Uniting on International Workers' Day, community members, workers, immigrants and students demanded not one more deportation. The Department of Homeland Security and the Tampa Police Department showed up in armored vehicles and took to the streets on bicycles in an attempt to intimidate the activists.

George Nasser of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression-Tampa (CSFR) said during his speech, “The change we strive for will never come from the ballot box; it will never result from empty reforms or endless dialogue; it will come when we take to the streets.”

The rally was emceed by Alicia Gazga and Alekos Zambrano, both members of Raíces in Tampa. The rally in front of the ICE office was organized by Raíces en Tampa, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA), Florida Peace Action Network, Block the Boat Tampa, Casa Chiapas Tampa, and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression-Tampa.

Zambrano said, “Raíces en Tampa supports the people fighting back. From Arizona against anti-immigrants laws enforced by people like Sheriff Joe Arpaio, to the people of Baltimore fighting back against the murder of Freddie Gray, on of their own!”

After hearing from speakers, the activists took to the streets of Ybor and marched around the ICE office. Some of the chants were, “Up, up! With liberation! Down, down with deportation!” “Se ve, se ciente, el pueblo esta presente!” and “From Tampa, to Baltimore, not one more!”

“I had never attended a May Day rally before,” said Roman Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant from Tampa. “I led a few chants during the march.”

Students from the University of South Florida provided transportation to the rally for the undocumented community of Tampa from the central location of La Mexicana, predominantly Mexican store.

Claudia Hernandez, who is undocumented, was one of the community members who accepted a ride from a student. The police presence made her uncomfortable and she approached the organizers of the event to ask if more people could escort her and her three young children to and from the student's car. “I don't want them to follow us and then try to do something to my family and I,” said Hernandez. “We aren't doing anything bad. We're demanding a stop to the deportations. The same deportations that they help make possible, here in Tampa.”

Marisol Marquez of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), said, “Today, we also remember all the fighters before us like those in Ferguson, like those in Sanford, like those in New York, and those currently in Baltimore, we yell down with the rich and powerful. Down with killer cops of our Black sisters and brothers like Freddie Gray, Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin! Down with killer cops of our Brown sisters and brothers like Jessie Hernandez of Arizona and Antonio Zambrano of Pasco, Washington. Down with those who cannot accept that we, the people, the poor, the workers, the students, the immigrants have come out to the streets today to stand up and fight back. May Day is our day and we celebrate it with pride, uniting all that we can around us.”

#TampaFL #Labor #MayDay #deportations #internationalWorkersDay #Not1More

Tampa, FL – A rally by immigrant rights activists on Sept. 25 stopped the planned next-day deportation of David Sanchez. Sanchez, who moved to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 14, was fighting to stay in Florida where he works and has a family. The community rallied outside of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Tampa.

Sanchez was ordered to wear an ankle monitor so that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could track his every move. He filed for an extension of his work visa, but was denied.

Local groups called for action against ICE and DHS to stop Sanchez's deportation. Over 200 people from around the country called the local Tampa ICE office demanding a stop to the deportation. Later that day, 70 people rallied outside the DHS office with Sanchez's family, chanting “Not one more!”

Yadalis Sanchez, David Sanchez’s daughter, said, “It is not fair that ICE can tear apart a family.”

Marisol Marquez, spokesperson for immigrant rights group Raices en Tampa, said, “Today, we've had enough. Tampa won't forget. No politician was here to help David Sanchez and his family. The people who are here today are the ones really supporting people like David Sanchez. We know the immigration system is doing exactly what it is meant to do – to separate us and hold us down.”

David Sanchez announced during the protest that ICE had sent him an e-mail regarding his deportation. It stated that ICE was giving him a three to six month extension on his visa.

Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez of the Florida Immigrant Coalition said, “Even with an extension, we don't want another deportation tomorrow. We don't want one next week, next month, or next year! No more!”

Protesters continued to rally, chanting, “When we fight, we win!” and “El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!” or “The people united can never be defeated!”

Groups that helped organized efforts to support Sanchez included Raices En Tampa, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Young American Dreamers, and United We Dream.

The actions on Sept. 25 temporarily stopped Sanchez from being deported. The struggle continues against other deportations, and the people understand that this fight is not over.

Marisol Marquez explained, “Obama deports 1100 people like David Sanchez each day. That's why we're planning on protesting him and his 'Deportation Party' on Election Day, to demand a stop to all deportations. We need Deferred Action for All and legalization for all 11 million undocumented in the U.S.”

#TampaFl #TampaFL #Obama #PeoplesStruggles #deportations #Florida #Immigration #RaicesEnTampa #DavidSanchez #Rights

Saint Paul, MN – Immigrant rights activists protested outside Senator Franken's campaign office Sept. 11, to send the message, “No more deportations, no more delays, no more excuses.” After demonstrating outside, they marched into the office and presented their demands to three Franken campaign staff members. Several community members spoke passionately to the Franken representatives. They said Franken should make a public statement reversing himself and calling for Obama to take executive action now to stop deportations. The Franken staff members said they would pass what people said on to the senator.

The protest was organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). They protested Franken, a Democratic Party senator, because last week he and a few other Democratic senators publicly told Obama to delay taking executive action to stop deportation of immigrants. Because of the inability to move any pro-immigrant legislation through Congress and mounting immigrant rights protests around the country, Obama had promised to take executive action by the end the summer. But because of the Democratic senators' statements at the 11th hour, presumably prompted by election-season jitters, Obama announced he would once again delay action needed to stop deportations at least until after the November election.

MIRAC member Brad Sigal said, “You can always come up with reasons to delay taking action for justice. If it’s not elections, it’s something else. But the time is now to stop deportations – no more delays, no more excuses. More than 1000 people are deported every day, so this delay means 60,000 more people will be deported, on top of the 2 million people already deported under this administration. Minnesota can’t wait. We call on Senator Franken to join us in telling President Obama to take executive action to stop the deportations now.”

#SaintPaulMN #deportations #AlFranken #MIRAc #BarackObama #MinnesotaImmigrantRightsActionCommittee

Minneapolis, MN – On Aug. 9 immigrant rights activists organized a vigil in Minneapolis as part of an International Day of Action in solidarity with Central American refugee children. Vigils were held in many cities in the U.S., Mexico and Central America. The vigils demanded protection and legal status, not detention and deportation for the tens of thousands of Central American children crossing the border into the U.S. – fleeing violence and extreme poverty in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The Obama administration is currently focusing on speeding up deportations of the children rather than treating them as refugees that need legal protective status and family reunification.

Activists and community members gathered at 8:00 p.m. on Lake Street and 12th Avenue at the statue of Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata. They held signs and banners, chanted and held lights as dusk set in. Many passers-by honked and waved to show their support. The protesters paid homage to the spirit of Zapata, chanting “Zapata vive, la lucha sigue!” (Zapata lives, the struggle continues!) and did many other chants calling for full equality and an end to deportations. After chanting and bannering for an hour the group came together and shared stories of experiences of family separation, why young people cross the U.S.-Mexico border and the need to join together and organize to support migrant children.

The vigil was organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) as part of an International Day of Action in Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants. The call for the day of solidarity originated with grassroots immigrant rights activists in Mexico and Texas.