Updated July 3, 2019: We had a great, spirited protest in El Cerrito on June 29 – nearly 200 people showed up to chant, sing, hold signs and banners, and take direct action to fight for immigrant justice. El Cerrito mayor Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto also spoke about El Cerrito’s Sanctuary City status, reaffirming that “families belong together.”
There are many ways you can keep fighting — see the section below, “More Ways You Can Help.”
Deadline: ongoing – Raise your voice LOUD AND CLEAR for immigrant justice! Join members of Indivisible East Bay, El Cerrito Shows Up, El Cerrito Progressives (ECP), and many others, from noon to 2 PM on Saturday June 29, 2019, at our protest in El Cerrito – part of the nationwide call for events by Immigrant Justice Now (formerly Families Belong Together). RSVP here, and please spread the link!
From “zero tolerance” to the detention of over 15,000 refugee children, current immigration policies are cruel, inhumane, and unjustified, and we MUST reject them. Families and individuals fleeing dangerous conditions have the right to seek asylum in our country. It has been nearly a year since we rallied and marched in over 60 cities to protest family separation, and things have only gotten worse. We have to keep the pressure up!
We’ll gather at the west entrance to El Cerrito Plaza, outside the Daiso Store at the busy intersection of San Pablo Ave. and Carlson Ave. Join us in songs, slogans, and solidarity! We’ll hold a peaceful, family-friendly, visible direct action, with signs and banners to bring this issue to life for passersby and drivers. We’ll also hand out info on actions people can take. Bring a sign – check out this chant list for ideas.
More ways you can help:
- Cookies Not Cages! ECP is raising funds to support the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC), which provides legal support for local immigrant minors here without their families. Thousands of unaccompanied minors are living in California, and hundreds attend local area schools. The Cookies Not Cages campaign debuts at the El Cerrito/worldOne July 4th festival, where ECP will collect donations for EBSC and educate people about the unaccompanied minors crisis. ECP will also hold monthly bake sales at El Cerrito Plaza (near Trader Joe’s) during July, August, September, and October, on the third Saturday of the month; and at Kensington Farmers Market on the third Sunday of the month. If you’re interested in baking or staffing the table please contact Ada Fung at as.fung@gmail.com Can’t make it? You can also donate at this gofundme fundraiser.
- Work with, support and/or donate to these local groups:
- Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance
- Freedom For Immigrants (formerly Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement)
- East Bay Sanctuary Covenant
- 1951 Coffee
- These national groups provide support for immigrants and children, including some working on the ground at the border to provide legal aid, direct assistance, and other resources:
- RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)
- Al Otro Lado
- Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project
- Save the Children
- Immigrant Families Together
- Interfaith Welcome Coalition
- Justice for Our Neighbors
- Kids In Need of Defense
- Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services
- The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights
- Lawyers for Good Government offers several ways you can help immigrants, whether or not you’re a legal professional.
Read our recent articles about immigration:
- June 28, 2019: Help Asylum Seekers Stranded at the Border. IEB member Erica writes about her experience helping asylum seekers at the U.S. border, and how you can also volunteer with the group Al Otro Lado. Erica is also looking for people who could offer housing in the Bay Area to trans-gender asylum seekers awaiting the resolution of their asylum applications. To learn more, email ericaetelson@gmail.com
- June 20, 2019: Speak out CA: we are a sanctuary
- June 6, 2019: Next Stop Hunger Games
