Keeping Fresno a Sanctuary City

Hundreds participated in the Sanctuary for all Solidarity March, which was held on February 18th. A group called “We are Fresno/Somos Fresno” organized this march.

“We want to show the power in our collective voice,” said We are Fresno/Somos Fresno.

We are Fresno/Somos Fresno started this group when “[they] saw that our mayor was not making any commitments through policy change to stand with our undocumented community.”

“We want our undocumented community to see and feel that they are not alone, and that there are people that are willing to stand alongside them,” said Somos Fresno.

“We need to declare Fresno a sanctuary city because people of Fresno need to hear Mayor Brand on our side,” said Jessica Mast-Foss, a graduate student of Fresno Pacific University and a former middle school teacher.

Somos Fresno said, “We want to highlight the importance that even though our Mayor is reiterating FPD immigration policy and reassuring the community that FPD will not collaborate with ICE, he and our city council members have not made any other commitments to implement policies and structures to protect our community”

“Whether or not the march put any immediate changes into place, or changed Mayor Brand’s mind right away, it is an event that can be “culture-shaping,” said Foss.

Foss marched alongside with others holding signs and chanted “No papers, no fear. Sin papeles, sin miedo.”

Many took photos and video and post it on social media using the #SomosFresno and #WeAreFresno hashtags.

We’ve heard of media coverage of similar marches and rallies throughout the nations held in bigger cities such as San Francisco, D.C., and Los Angeles, but it is important that smaller cities such as Fresno is also making moves.

“It’s important to cover the protests that are happening in the big cities, but if you want to make changes that you can see, you have to take part in local politics,” said Simone Cranston-Rhodes.

Rhodes has taken part as a politic activist since she has been in high school.

“I didn’t help plan the march or anything, but I think that’s one of the really exciting thing about what is going on right now,” said Rhodes, “a lot of the people that has been long time activists in the community are not necessarily organizing these marches and rallies. And that’s great that new people are stepping onto the plate. I think it’s a wonderful things.”

Rhodes, alongside with Somos Fresno and Foss, said that it is important “to make connection between people who are like-minded and send the message to politicians that people are uniting.”

“It’s easy to get catch up in what is happening nationally, but if we elect officials here locally, we can expect to see changes that will affect our day to day live,” said Rhodes.

Like those who march to show their support for a cause, there are also those who march and show that they do not support the cause as well.

“We will not be intimidated by oppression and injustice, and we will continue to call out policies and governmental structures do not honor the dignity in human life,” said Somos Fresno.

Those who participated chose to march not because of what is the executive order made under President Donald Trump’s administration, but due to what is happening with our local officials.

Aside from the march, many participated in “Day without Immigrants”, which was held the following Thursday from the march.

“We want others to acknowledge that the undocumented community is an important fabric of our city: we rely on their contributions, they are our neighbors, our students, our co-workers, and an integral part of our society,” said Somos Fresno.

This march is to send the message to many of our officials and our community that we are to stand together to make a different.

“It’s very important that people are allies in the immigrants community right now, if you’re not a person of color, if you’re white, this is the time to step up and really take action in defense of very harmful immigration policy,” said Rhodes.

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For more information, contact:

We are Fresno/Somos Fresno, Wearesomosfresno@gmail.com

Simone Cranston-Rhodes (559) 978-4504

Jessica Mast-Foss, Intervarsity.fresnostate@gmail.com