I read about the folks in the far left all the time, and today I drove to Sacramento to see them up close and in action. This event was one of the several Families Belong Together demonstrations being held throughout the country. For over two hours I heard their calls to abolish ICE, end deportations, and welcome immigrants and refugees. I hope these people get plenty of media coverage, and the Democrats fully adopt their message, to help the Republicans in the coming elections.
The demonstration was held in front of the US Citizenship and Immigration Building on Capitol Mall. I have no idea of the crowd size, but people lined both sides of Capitol Mall between 5th and 7th Streets. With demonstrations in Vacaville, Stockton, and Grass Valley, this event largely drew people from the greater Sacramento area. Things kicked off at ten o'clock.
I saw two American flags and one was being flown upside down. There were plenty of red flags. Guess what they represent? And while there were banners and signs for Industrial Workers of the World, Brown Berets, and Party for Socialism and Liberation, most banners I saw were for Democratic Socialists of America. I think Democratic Socialists of America is gaining some traction.
Here is a sampling of the signs people held: Defund ICE / No US Government Child Abuse / The GOP Supports Internment Camps for Kids / No Ban. No Wall. Not Now. Not Ever. / Workers Without Borders / Abolish ICE / Fuck Trump.
Chants from a sheet handed out by organizers:
Up, up with liberation!
Down, down with deportation!
Resistance is liberation
Break the chains
No Ban! No Wall!
Sanctuary for All!
Parents protesting the treatment of illegal immigrant children in detention centers had their very young children with them in the uncomfortable heat (high 90s) and intense sunlight.
While the speakers went on about this and that, a splinter group headed up 7th Street to protest in front of the Sacramento County Main Jail on I Street. This caused much work for the police, who had to divert traffic and otherwise keep things under control. This splinter group returned as things were winding down.
By now it was 12:15. I had seen enough for one day. I headed home.
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| Self Portrait |
