FRESNO, CA (KMJ) -Fresno community members, farm workers, and education officials held a protest of what they call President Trump’s immigration tactics that are terrorizing families.
Dozens gathered to share stories, play music and make their voices heard at the rally held Tuesday, outside the Fresno County Sheriff’s building, with organizers calling for Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims to stop the deportation force.
A clothesline was hung behind the speakers at the podium, showing photos of family members who have been impacted by deportation.
“We’re mobilizing because fear is spreading throughout the U.S, especially among the immigrant communities. We are here today standing united with our immigrant brothers and sisters in rejecting fear and hate,” – Samuel Molina, CA State Director of Mi Familia Vota.
Fresno Unified School District Trustee Claudia Cazares, and her son spoke of the worry seen in many local school children, who are afraid that their parents may be snatched away.
Fresno was just one stop en route for the “Caravan Against Fear” convoy. Throughout the journey, the Caravan will put pressure on legislators to pass expansive sanctuary policies for all, refuse to cooperate with ICE, withhold funding for deportations or border wall construction, and restore constitutional protections to people living along the border. Social media links included #AgainstFear #ShutitDownMay1
The next stop on the caravan’s tour was a rally in Bakersfield, in advance of a national strike taking place May 1st.
Sheriff Margaret Mims issued a statement about the protest outside their office.
“I support a person’s right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest. I as the Sheriff of Fresno County I also believe in the rule of law. Holding criminals accountable supports the rule of law. My partnership with ICE in the Fresno County Jail has proven to be an effective process to identify those with criminal records who should be taken into federal custody. We will continue to work together in order to keep everyone in our community safe. I continue to call on Congress to work with local law enforcement to pass comprehensive immigration reform to make our communities even safer.”
Margaret Mims – Fresno County Sheriff
Click below to listen to the story by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
