By Brooke Binkowski
Times of San Diego
A crowd of protesters gathered downtown Thursday, April 30, to protest the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.
The morning crowd in front of San Diego Immigration Court is nothing new: a small but dedicated group of protesters have gathered there every week for more than a year, aiming to focus public attention on the actions of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies.
But Jewish groups Bend the Arc, T’ruah, and others organized a national day of action this week, drawing about 150 attendees in San Diego, many carrying signs reading “Jews Demand: ICE Out!” and “Stop Illegal Detention.”
The event also prominently featured signs calling for a May Day strike on Friday, May 1.
Michael Rothbaum, rabbi for congregation Dor Hadash, said he doesn’t understand why there is not more of a Jewish presence at immigration actions. “For Jews, this should be basic,” he said. “This should be a no-brainer.”
Rothbaum and the crowd acknowledged the names of those killed by federal immigration agents.
“The foundation story of the Jewish people is the story of the Israelite refugees,” Rothbaum said. “We… honor the immigrant and love the immigrant and respect the immigrant… because we know what it was like to live under the shadow of Pharoah, under the shadow of suspicion and surveillance,” he said, leading attendees in a singing prayer.
San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera also appeared at the event at the event. “I’m a person who cares about people because that’s what you’re supposed to do,” he said, as the crowd cheered.
“While ICE represents and is many terrible things that thing that is most terrible to me is the way they are dehumanizing people,” he added. “One of the lessons I have learned as a Jew is that whenever we allow anyone to be dehumanized…. we are breaking a part of ourselves and making everyone less safe.”
He said the controversial proposed city budget hurts the same people who are currently being put in harm’s way by the Trump administration.
“We need people who care about people, who want to show up for their neighbors, to engage in that fight as well,” he said.
Representatives from Terra Lawson Remer’s and Paloma Aguirre’s offices also attended.
Elo-Rivera said he stands up for others because his parents taught him it was the right thing to do, and that he recognizes that no one ever truly stands alone — everyone is connected.
“I am a multi-ethnic person who has a family who has multiple religions, multiple ethnicities…Those are core parts of my identity,” he said.
Organizer Wendy Gerlenter of Take Action San Diego said that connectedness was the theme of the event. Attendees came from all ethnicities and beliefs, she pointed out.
“We are all here for the same reason,” Gerlenter said. “We show up for one another, we defend our neighbors, we stand up for a democracy and we say no to the far right and harm inflicted by ICE on our communities.”
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This article republished from Times of San Diego, with which San Diego Jewish World has an agreement to share stories.