Nationwide strike leads Inland Empire residents to protest in downtown Riverside

About 1,000 anti-ICE protestors marched through the streets of downtown Riverside on Jan. 30 during a national day of action. Minnesota protestors called for the strike and shutdown after the recent displays of violence from federal immigration agents in their state.

“(I’m here) to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves,” Jocelyn Morales, a protestor from Riverside, said. “I have people, neighbors who are too afraid to come out, so if I have the chance, I’m gonna do it.”

The crowd gathered in solidarity in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse at 3 p.m. where the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice was set up to rally before the march. 

The coalition had speakers such as Luz Pérez, candidate for Fontana city council, address the recent acts of federal immigration agents and the Trump administration as reasons for the strike. Pérez made a call to action and reminded the crowd that this is the time to organize. 

Riverside Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes was also in attendance to support the protestors in their demonstration. Cervantes reiterated the importance of pushing elected officials to enforce policies that will protect our communities. She said the day of action was to attract the attention of those in power and show how our communities are over the terrorization.

“We’re not going to allow them to continue to violate our rights and to violate the Constitution,” Cervantes said.

Hundreds of students from Polytechnic High School and other Riverside Unified School District schools held their own marches in protest of ICE. The students walked out of classes, supporting the movement of the day of action, on Jan. 29, according to news reports. 

Following the national day of action, another anti-ICE protest has been organized and took place in the morning on Jan. 31 at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Tyler Street at 10 a.m.