Fresno protesters filled the streets on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, waving flags and chanting against deportations, following a press conference revealing the detention of 78 people in recent local immigration operations. (GV Wire/Anthony W. Haddad)
- Hundreds gather at Blackstone Avenue for an anti-deportation protest, demanding an end to deportations in Fresno.
- Protest follows news of 78 detentions across Fresno and Kern counties, with leaders emphasizing local law enforcement's limited role.
- Social media platforms like TikTok fueled the protest's turnout, with another rally scheduled for Jan. 20 at 9 a.m.
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Hundreds of protesters lined both sides of Blackstone Avenue, near Nees Avenue, on Sunday, waving flags, chanting, and calling for an end to deportations in Fresno.
Demonstrators, many carrying the national flag of Mexico, were joined by drivers honking in support, with some vehicles displaying their own flags and signs.
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Flor Martinez-Zaragoza, one of the protesters, told GV Wire the rally aimed to oppose deportations.
She said a woman at the protest had her husband detained by immigration officers the previous week.
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“We do not want la migra, we do not want any immigration officers in our communities,” Martinez-Zaragoza said. “People forget that California is the biggest ag state. We feed the rest of the country and the Central Valley plays a large, large role in that.”
She credited the protest’s turnout to social media platforms like TikTok, which is poised to be banned on Jan. 19, which many participants said alerted them to the event.
“It is very meaningful that there are so many people here,” Martinez-Zaragoza added, noting that another protest is planned for Jan. 20 at 9 a.m. at the same location.
Related Story: Fresno Hit-and-Run Collision Shuts Down Blackstone Avenue During Protest
Many drivers holding signs or leaning out of windows disregarded safety precautions, Fresno police who were there told GV Wire.
The large turnout caused traffic congestion in the area, with a hit-and-run incident reported, causing part of Blackstone Avenue to be closed.
Press Conference Regarding 78 People Detained
The protest followed a Saturday press conference where local and federal leaders announced that 78 people had been detained in recent Customs and Border Protection operations across Fresno and Kern counties.
Related Story: ‘We Stand With You’: Valley Leaders Gather to Address Immigration ...
The event, organized by Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez, featured Congressman Jim Costa, State Senator Anna Caballero, and local officials, who sought to clarify the scope of the operations and reassure residents about local law enforcement’s limited role.
Officials emphasized that the Fresno Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office are not involved in immigration enforcement and shared information on legal resources and immigrant rights.
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