Hundreds Take Part In Livermore ‘Families Belong Together’ Rally

LIVERMORE, CA — More than 350 people turned out Saturday to take part in the ‘Families Belong Together’ rally held at the flagpole in Livermore, according to Tri Valley Progressives for Our Revolution. More than 400 people turned out in Dublin and 600 participated in the Pleasanton rally. The Livermore event was one of 700 planned nationwide.

UU Minister Stephen Fuller, St Charles Borromeo Pastoral Associate Karen Miller, Livermore Mayor John Marchand, Sammy Jo Rudy, on behalf of Congressman Eric Swalwell, Assembly member Catharine Baker, Ruth Gasten, Co­Founder of Interfaith/Interconnect and Holocaust survivor, Simrah Kahn, Granada High School student, Lilia Lara, Mexican Naturalized citizen, Spojmie Nasiri, Immigration lawyer, and Beth Emek Rabbi Larry Milder shared their immigration stories with the group.

Activists shared their list of demands:

• Reunite families now. Permanently end family separation and immediately reunify those that have been separated. ICE must release parents immediately so that ORR can reunify them with their children.
• End family detention. Children and families deserve due process, not indefinite imprisonment. Children do not belong in baby cages and internment-like camps. Family incarceration is not the solution to family separation.
• End ‘Zero Humanity.’ Reverse the Trump administration’s policy that created this crisis and chaos to begin with. Parents should not be criminally prosecuted for doing what all parents do, which is bring their children to safety. This horrible nightmare for families will only end when Trump permanently stops his 100% prosecution policy.

Photos courtesy Tri Valley Progressives for Our Revolution