Hundreds of walkers, families, and allies began a 50-mile march Saturday from Napa to Dublin to protest ICE enforcement operations in the Bay Area, and call for the immediate halt of federal plans to convert the former women’s prison in Dublin into an ICE detention center.
The three-day march organized by the Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform (NCCJIR) is the fourth annual “Caminata for Immigrant Rights.”
More than 100 people started walking from Napa High School starting at 8:45 a.m.
Renee Saucedo of Almas Libres and Raizes Collective is a community organizer in Sonoma County and said the caminata started about five years ago. Several activists groups in the greater bay area joined forces and created this Northern California coalition.
“We originally came together because we felt it was important as a region to push more powerfully for a path to citizenship policy. And we participated in national efforts,” she said.
“Since then we have seen Trump’s reelection and the anti-immigrant repression increase to a disturbing level. With people being kidnapped and families being separated and people being held in concentration camps without due process, in inhumane conditions. We chose this route this year because Napa represents how immigrant workers sustain many industries in our region, particularly the wine industry. And we chose Dublin because the Trump administration is, as we speak, trying to pass it on to ICE to be able to open up a new immigrant prison. And we absolutely refuse,” Saucedo said.
About a hundred people ranging from different counties such as Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa and more began a 50 mile walk starting at Napa High School. The Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform hosted its 4th annual three-day “Caminata for Immigrant Rights” from June 6–8, marching over 50 miles from Napa to Dublin. Asking for immigration reform and the immediate halt of federal plans to convert the former women’s prison in Dublin into an ICE detention center. (Photo by Elsa Cavazos)
About a hundred people ranging from different counties such as Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa and more began a 50 mile walk starting at Napa High School. The Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform hosted its 4th annual three-day “Caminata for Immigrant Rights” from June 6–8, marching over 50 miles from Napa to Dublin. Asking for immigration reform and the immediate halt of federal plans to convert the former women’s prison in Dublin into an ICE detention center. (Photo by Elsa Cavazos)
About a hundred people ranging from different counties such as Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa and more began a 50 mile walk starting at Napa High School. The Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform hosted its 4th annual three-day “Caminata for Immigrant Rights” from June 6–8, marching over 50 miles from Napa to Dublin. Asking for immigration reform and the immediate halt of federal plans to convert the former women’s prison in Dublin into an ICE detention center. (Photo by Elsa Cavazos)
About a hundred people ranging from different counties such as Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa and more began a 50 mile walk starting at Napa High School. The Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform hosted its 4th annual three-day “Caminata for Immigrant Rights” from June 6–8, marching over 50 miles from Napa to Dublin. Asking for immigration reform and the immediate halt of federal plans to convert the former women’s prison in Dublin into an ICE detention center. (Photo by Elsa Cavazos)
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About a hundred people ranging from different counties such as Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa and more began a 50 mile walk starting at Napa High School. The Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform hosted its 4th annual three-day “Caminata for Immigrant Rights” from June 6–8, marching over 50 miles from Napa to Dublin. Asking for immigration reform and the immediate halt of federal plans to convert the former women’s prison in Dublin into an ICE detention center. (Photo by Elsa Cavazos)
Rene Espinoza, part of CSO Oakland, who has been a member for about a month, said this is his first walk.
“It’s the fact that I come from an immigrant family myself,” Espinoza said. “I currently live in Marin. I do some volunteer work at a food pantry in San Rafael. I see a lot of people from the Latino community. And it’s hard sometimes seeing them because you can see a lot of them are a little bit on edge. They speak about people who they know have been taken by ICE or somebody that they know . It’s hard to witness that,” he said.
“It’s something I can do because there’s only so much power that any of us have as an individual. It’s something larger, and it takes a lot of effort and a lot of organizing, a lot of work, and I feel like it helps reinforce the idea that there are people who are going to stand up and fight for those who might not have as powerful a voice or might not feel safe enough to use their voice,” the 37-year-old Espinoza said.
Tessa Henry and her 12-year-old child of Angwin had attended marches in support of Palestine, but this was their first time attending a walking march like this one.
“Even though we’re just here for half a day, we’re checking out what it would take to walk for three days. It would be cool to participate a little bit longer, maybe next year,” Henry said.
“I feel like our immigrant neighbors are under attack, and we are stronger together,” she said.
Elana Feldman, from Petaluma, was working as security. Feldman was wearing a green vest and was in charge of making sure walkers were safe on the sidewalk.
“If there’s anybody who is being derogatory or saying unkind things, any sightings of ICE. We have a system where we will all speak to each other and keep our walkers safe,” Feldman said.
“I feel that there’s a lot going on in the world today, but I feel that our love and our unity is stronger than any of this hate and cruelty,” she added.
Xander Nicholson who is a part of CSO North Bay and is a resident of Napa was also in attendance. He has done barrio walks with the organization where they walk through local neighborhoods and give “know your rights” information. But this is his first walking march this long.
“Help each other, look out for each other, join your local rapid response network, and F*ck ICE,” he said.
Maria Lopez, 28, brought her two children and her niece. Lopez had only attended one previous event of the sort but wanted to join this time. “We need to tell people to join us because the more people we have, we will advance with our objectives. If we unite and have the same goal and vision, we will achieve our goals,” Lopez said in Spanish.