Washington, DC – On Saturday, August 30, the DC Alliance Against Trump Coalition (DCAT) hit the streets again, this time partnering with the Long Live GoGo Foundation to host a march and live GoGo concert on August 30, aimed at fighting the Trump directed occupation of DC.

Since Trump’s federalization of DC, starting on August 11, the presence of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), ICE, and National Guard troops has increased their assumed powers over the community with unlawful curfew zones, check points, and kidnappings of residents focused on the immigrant communities.

Saturday’s event, dubbed Defend the District, was a powerful and direct anti-Trump response from the DC community, declaring “End the occupation!”

The event kicked off with a rally, emceed by activist and founder of Long Live GoGo Justin “Yaddiya” Johnson, and included speeches from DCAT, Guns Down Friday, and community members.

The energy from the rally quickly spilled into the streets of 14th and U – the site of last week’s DCAT rally – as the ensemble march began. Chant leads from Freedom Road Socialist Organization the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) took to the front of the line to lead chants of “Racist, coward, crooked cops, get a fucking real job!” intermixed with dancing and song-like chants of “Fuck Donald Trump” to which the crowd shouted back, “Fuck ICE!”

The march ended at Sylvan Theater at the National Mall where a GoGo musical performance welcomed activated protesters. Before reaching their destination, protesters shouted down National Guard troops and MPD, with chants of “Troops go home,” interspersed with “Fuck the police” and “Chinga la Migra!”

At Sylvan Theater, live GoGo music played between speeches from community speakers such as Jawanna Hardy, founder of Guns Down Friday, DC Councilmember Robert White and DCAARPR’s Merawi Gerima speaking on behalf of the DC Alliance Against Trump Coalition.

“If you were out here last Saturday you saw that we shut down that racist curfew zone on 14th and U,” said Gerima, “that’s the power of the people, and that’s the power that we want to bring into a focused energy against Trump’s racist agenda in DC!”

The DC Against Trump coalition, an ever-growing coalition of local organizations aimed at fighting the Trump agenda and takeover of DC, announced plans for a mass cop watch event on Friday, September 5, at 7 p.m., at Navy Yard in Southeast DC.

#WashingtonDC #DC #PeoplesStruggles #ImmigrantRights #Trump #DCAARPR #DCAT #LongLiveGoGoFoundation #GDF

Los Angeles, CA – On August 30, at 3 p.m., Chicanos, impacted families of police brutality, people raided by ICE and the FBI, along with supporters will in East Los Angeles, for a march, marking the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

The march will begin at Sounds of Music record store, the site of what was once the Silver Dollar; a bar where many including LA Times reporter Ruben Salazar took refuge after LAPD and Los Angeles sheriffs mercilessly beat and attempted to disperse participants in the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium. Salazar was killed by LA sheriffs. The moratorium’s demands were ending the Vietnam occupation and equality for Chicanos.

Tomorrow, a large coalition will be commemorating the 55th anniversary of this event and uplifting current demands such as stand with Palestine, ICE out of LA, Chicano self-determination, community control of police, and defend public education.

The coalition is made up of Centro CSO, Union del Barrio, Black Lives Matter: Los Angeles, Jewish Voice for Peace, About Face LA, UTLA, Teamsters, SEIU, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and United Families for Justice, which consists of police killing impacted families of Jeremy Flores, Francisco Núñez and Hugo Cachua.

“I believe it is important to commemorate the 55th Chicano Moratorium, because we once again find ourselves, as a people, in a crucial moment, where staying silent is complicity,” says Centro CSO member and security lead Derek Mejia, “People should be out in the streets on Saturday August 30, standing up against the ICE raids and with Palestine! It is important that we continue and maintain the long history of the Chicano struggle.”

The 55th commemoration will begin at 3 p.m. at the Sounds of Music record store, where attendees will begin marching, and ending at Salazar Park for a rally and entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. That part of the event will take place at the Whittier Boulevard/Alma Avenue side of the park. The family-friendly event will have free food, water and entertainment.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Chicano #ChicanoMoratorium #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #CentroCSO #UniondelBarrio #BlackLivesMatter #JVP #AboutFace #SEIU #Teamsters #UTLA

Decorah, IA – On Monday night, August 4, the Decorah City Council chambers was packed as residents demanded the city move forward with a proposed “separation ordinance” to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The ordinance, drafted by immigrant rights advocates, would restrict the city from engaging in unnecessary collaboration with ICE. Supporters say it would help protect immigrant communities from harassment, racial profiling and federal overreach.

During public comments, speaker after speaker called on the council to take the first step by placing the proposal on an upcoming agenda for official discussion.

“I’m proud to be one of the many Decorah residents asking you to put the separation ordinance on a future agenda and commit to talking openly and officially,” stated immigrant rights organizer Joshua Ratel-Khan. “This issue deserves daylight. Our city will not be a tool of federal repression. We won’t hand over our time, our labor, our data, or our public dollars to help ICE terrorize our neighbors.”

Community members spoke about the fear spreading among immigrants due to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric and state and federal policies. They outlined the ordinance’s three main goals: reduce unnecessary cooperation with ICE, limit harmful data collection, and establish oversight and transparency.

Several pointed out that similar laws exist in over 200 cities and counties across the U.S., proving such policies are both legal and effective. Others stressed that the draft ordinance is a starting point, not a final product, and could be adapted to meet Decorah’s needs.

While a small number of speakers questioned the legality of certain provisions, they still affirmed their support for immigrants and opposition to discrimination.

Mayor Lorraine Borowski cut off public comment before all speakers could be heard, prompting Ratel-Khan to push for more time so residents’ perspectives could be fully aired. Borowski said there would likely be more opportunities for input in the future.

Because the ordinance was not listed on the August 4 meeting agenda, council members were barred from formal discussion. Still, some thanked residents for speaking out and encouraged continued engagement.

Whether the separation ordinance will be scheduled for future debate remains uncertain, but supporters made it clear they are organized and determined to keep fighting until the city takes action to protect immigrant communities.

#DecorahIA #IA #ImmigrantRights #DCIR #SanctuaryCity #SeparationOrdinance