05 Feb Student Activists Lead Hundreds in Richmond March for Immigrant Rights

Kennedy High student Julissa Blandon, center, walks with others in a pro-immigrant rights march Sunday on 23rd Street in Richmond.

Story and photos by Denis Perez-Bravo

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, Richmond’s 23rd Street became the backdrop for a powerful “Immigrants Make America Great” march led by local students and activists standing in solidarity with immigrant communities.

The event, which drew a crowd of around 300, was organized in just under a week, highlighting the urgency many felt in response to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies.

The marchers filled the street, chanting “¡Sí se puede!” as they made their way through Richmond’s bustling business district. The show of support was not only a call for immigrant rights but also a demonstration of the strong bonds within the community.

Students Spark the Movement

It all began Jan. 27 when Ivonne Hernandez, a UC Berkeley sophomore, set out to rally support for a march in Richmond. Hernandez quickly connected with Merary Alvarado, a fellow Kennedy High alumna now studying at San Francisco State University. Together, they reached out to their former leadership teacher at Kennedy High, sparking the involvement of current students eager to join the cause.

“We met up at Kennedy around noon and just started brainstorming,” she said. “That’s how the idea came together.”

Before the march began, Alvarado addressed the crowd in Spanish, delivering the event’s message.

“We organized this march to show our community that that we support them,” she said. “Our primary objective is to protect our community by exercising our rights.”

As she spoke, protesters proudly waved flags from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico. Handmade signs with messages like “No Human Being Is Illegal” and “Keep Families Together” were held high.

After Richmond Police officers were seen speaking with organizers to keep people off the street, the march moved onto one side of the street. The protesters continued down 23rd Street, turning onto Roosevelt Avenue before looping back around to Richmond High School, where the event culminated with a rally.

At the rally, several speakers shared powerful personal stories of the challenges immigrants face. Gaby Ake, an activist from El Sobrante, moved the crowd as she recounted her own experience with deportation. When Ake was just 12 years old, her mother was deported, and for years, Ake was forced to travel between the U.S. and Guatemala to continue her education.

“No government agency came looking for me,” she said. “No one offered to help.”

Ake also spoke about the “A Day Without an Immigrant” protest that was scheduled for the following day. Immigrants — and people who support them — were encouraged to stay home from work, skip school and refrain from spending money. The goal, she said, is to disrupt the daily economic flow and draw attention to the vital role immigrants play in the nation’s economy, all while rallying support for immigrant communities.

Carlos Solórzano-Cuadra, CEO of the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in San Francisco, told media Monday that many Latino-owned businesses were closed in support of the protest.

“Immigrants are the backbone of this economy,” Solórzano-Cuadra said. “By staying home and not spending money, we’re sending a message that our contributions can’t be ignored.”

Yaquelin Valencia, a Richmond-based youth organizer and DACA recipient, urged those gathered Sunday to participate in the economic protest, saying it was a critical moment to show unity and strength.

“Tomorrow, we will show how we can impact this country’s economy,” Valencia told demonstrators. “This fight requires sustained, daily effort from all of us.”

Valencia emphasized the importance of building coalitions beyond the Mexican immigrant community, highlighting shared struggles among immigrants from Haiti, Cuba and Brazil.

Richmond’s Strong Support

Richmond has long been a sanctuary city, with local leaders and residents alike standing up for immigrant rights. Despite ongoing threats from federal immigration authorities, Richmond City Council has continued to support policies that protect immigrant families from deportation.

But as tensions rise over the potential use of software that could assist in tracking immigrants, local organizers are calling for even greater vigilance and unity.

“We need to talk to all our neighbors because this community isn’t just Latino,” Valencia said. “If we truly want to win papers [legal status] for everyone, if we really want to stop the deportations, it can’t only be us.”