Lookout PM: Protests from around the county, Capitola Avenue bridge reopens, Panetta and local officials speak on immigration enforcement

Welcome to Friday night’s Lookout PM.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

More than 1,000 students throng downtown Santa Cruz in anti-ICE protest

By Max Chun and Kevin Painchaud

More than 1,000 students from local schools staged a walkout and marched through downtown Santa Cruz on Friday to protest against ICE and Trump administration policies before settling in outside the county courthouse.

Moms, nurses also lead actions against ICE enforcement

By Hillary Ojeda and Kevin Painchaud

Dozens of mothers with young children marched in Aptos on Friday while about 80 nurses and supporters rallied outside Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz as part of anti-ICE protests across the county. Organizers and participants said they took to the streets to stand in solidarity with immigrants and denounce what they described as cruelty and fear caused by federal immigration enforcement.

Capitola Avenue bridge reopens after nearly 2 years of construction as neighbors celebrate

By Max Chun

The Capitola Avenue bridge project is finally complete, and reopened for traffic Friday afternoon. It’s been closed since March 2024.

Panetta, local officials and nonprofit leaders working together to protect county residents from immigration enforcement impacts

By Tania Ortiz

Local government officials, nonprofit leaders and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta say they are working together to protect Santa Cruz County’s most vulnerable residents from the impacts of immigration enforcement amid federal agents’ intensifying enforcement in Minnesota.

More local businesses, groups announce closures for anti-ICE national shutdown Friday

By Hillary Ojeda

More Santa Cruz County businesses and community groups are closing or taking action Friday as part of a national shutdown protesting violent immigration enforcement and the killings of anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis. Restaurants, retailers and organizations from Felton to Watsonville announced closures, donations or solidarity actions, while students and health care workers also organized rallies and demonstrations.

Moms, nurses also lead actions against ICE enforcement

By Hillary Ojeda and Kevin Painchaud

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