In East Oakland, hundreds gathered to protest against escalating immigration enforcement and the recent deployment of National Guard troops by the Trump administration. Organized by Faith in Action East Bay, the vigil expressed concerns that such military mobilization could mirror actions taken in Los Angeles. Community leaders, including Pastor Todd Benson and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, emphasized the importance of protecting immigrant rights and peaceful protest. Personal stories, like that of Jovanna Diaz, highlighted the human impact of deportation, reinforcing calls for empathy and solidarity in the face of government actions.
We are concerned that what happened in LA is going to happen here, said Pastor Todd Benson, executive director of Faith in Action East Bay, which helped organize the interfaith vigil at Fruitvale Plaza.
There's no need to call up the National Guard or the Marines, Benson said. He (President Donald Trump) is doing this because he thinks it benefits him, but it harms so many people.
An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, Lee said. Oakland resident Jovanna Diaz cited her father as the reason for attending the vigil.
I just want to make my dad proud and use my voice for him and for all of our people, Diaz said.
Collection
[
|
...
]