Quick Take
Hundreds of community members in Santa Cruz and Watsonville took part in protests Monday afternoon advocating for immigrant rights as President Donald Trump attempts to make sweeping changes to immigration policies.
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Chants of “Si se puede” (Yes we can) and “El barrio unido, jamás será vencido” (The united neighborhood will never be defeated) and the loud sounds of stadium horns and wooden noisemakers rang through the streets of both Santa Cruz and Watsonville on Monday afternoon as hundreds of community members took part in protests, advocating for immigrant rights.
Monday’s protests follow President Donald Trump’s attempts to make sweeping changes to immigration policies. The public demonstrations were also part of a larger nationwide movement, “A Day Without Immigrants,” which saw many businesses close their doors for the day in solidarity with the immigrant community.
Throughout Santa Cruz County, dozens of businesses were closed to take part in the nationwide protest on Monday. Participation appeared widespread in South County, and included restaurants, laundromats, bakeries, retail shops and food trucks. Notably, several area grocery stores and markets were closed for the day, including La Condesa Supermarket, Vallarta Supermarket, D’La Comena Market & Catering and La Princesa Market.
“My parents are undocumented and I wouldn’t want to see them suffer,” said Natalie, a 17-year-old Scotts Valley High School student who organized the downtown Santa Cruz protest. (Lookout is choosing not to include her last name out of concern for her parents’ safety.) “I haven’t heard [of a protest] in Santa Cruz, and there’s a lot of people like us here, so we have to make a difference somewhere.”
Natalie and her 13-year-old sister, Stephanie, took the day off from school to take part in and organize Monday’s protests to show support for their parents and other undocumented individuals, whose rights are threatened under a second Trump presidency. The 17-year-old led chants of “Si Se Puede” and “Viva La Raza” as the group of almost 100 stood in front of the city’s clock tower.
Community members showed up to the town clock in downtown Santa Cruz with flags from Latin American countries such as Mexico and Nicaragua, and proudly waved them around. Drivers passing through Water Street honked their horns, sometimes even raising their fists and chanting along with protesters.
“It’s important to be behind my people,” said Luz Maria Fuentes. “We are here as workers, not criminals. So, it’s very important to let everyone know that we exist and that we are here together to raise our voices.”
Fuentes, who works in the nonprofit sector, also participated in the “A Day Without Immigrants” movement by not going to work Monday. It’s important to let everyone know that immigrants are here, she said, and that they are willing to stop everything in order to be with their community.
The immigrant people in Santa Cruz are the unknown people in this county, said Olivia Martinez, region director for the local Service Employees International Union (SEIU) chapter. Martinez called on those with progressive political beliefs to step up and become allies to the immigrant community.
“We’re not a progressive town if they’re not showing up with us and becoming true allies of us and its citizens,” Martinez said. “It’s sad to not see more people that are not Latinos or Mexicans showing up to Monday’s protest, when Santa Cruz claims it’s a progressive town.”
Santa Cruz was not the only city in the county taking part in demonstrations. In Watsonville, almost 100 protesters marched from Target on Main Street to the city’s downtown plaza. The protest stopped traffic as community members — old and young — flowed into the streets.
As they made their way to the city plaza, local business owners stepped outside and were in awe at the number of people taking part in Monday’s protests. People who live in apartments above businesses peered out their windows and waved Mexican flags.
“I think people haven’t seen this in a while,” said Felipe Hernandez, District 4 Santa Cruz County Supervisor. “What I’m seeing today gives me hope for the future, it gives me inspiration for the future to see an active community that’s fighting for their rights.”
There is a sense of orgullo, or pride, seeing the younger generation on the front lines fighting for the rights of immigrants, he said. Watsonville has always been a Latino community — they make up 85% of the city, Hernandez said, and a lot of the immigrants work in the agriculture industry.
“I think this is what makes us strong,” said Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco. “Coming together as a community, taking a strong stance against racism, and supporting our immigrant community in Watsonville.”
Orozco, who comes from an immigrant family, got emotional taking in the sight in front of her: “We need more of this. People need to uplift their voices, our youth to be engaged for causes that they care about, and for them to have an impact on what the future has in store for them and their familias.”
By the time the crowd reached Watsonville’s center, even more people arrived with signs that read “No one is illegal on stolen land,” “Families belong together” and “Don’t bite the hands that feed you.” People handed out red cards — cards written in Spanish that detail the rights of undocumented individuals, such as not opening the door if an immigration agent shows up.
Last month, the Watsonville City Council voted unanimously to reaffirm the city’s commitment to support and protect its immigrant community. Watsonville Police Chief Jorge Zamora told Lookout last month he doesn’t want residents to feel afraid to call law enforcement because they fear officers might deport them. Immigration status is not the police department’s top priority, Zamora said.
Community organizations such as the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County have been hosting “Know Your Rights” workshops, teaching residents about the rights they have as immigrants and what to do if they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. County leaders similarly pledged their support to the immigrant community following the Nov. 5 election, and affirmed that they still can access health services without the risk that their information will be shared with federal immigration authorities. The City of Santa Cruz has yet to reaffirm its sanctuary city status.
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