Dozens of protesters lined the sidewalks near River Park Saturday afternoon as part of Peace Fresno’s weekly demonstration, calling for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Central Valley and urging local officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The protest is part of a recurring Saturday action hosted by Peace Fresno, a local anti-war and social justice organization founded in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. While the group has maintained a consistent presence at River Park since late 2023, organizers said attendance has surged in recent weeks amid heightened national attention on immigration enforcement.

“We’ve been coming here every Saturday since October of 2023,” said Dan Yasin, president and co-founder of Peace Fresno. “There were weeks where only four or five people showed up. Now, last week we had around 400.”

The Roots of Peace Fresno

Peace Fresno was formed after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and later opposed the wars in Iraq and Iran, according to Yasin. Over the past two decades, the group has continued organizing protests against militarism, government surveillance and what members describe as ongoing erosion of civil liberties.

Yasin said the group’s current focus on immigration enforcement reflects what organizers see as an escalation in ICE activity nationally and growing fear within immigrant communities.

“What’s going on is, very, very dangerous times. 
We are losing our First Amendment right, ” Yasin said. 

Saturday’s protest drew longtime activists as well as first-time attendees. Many carried handmade signs calling for immigrant rights and warning of what they see as over-policing and unchecked federal power.

Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Motivates Protesters

Emily Rodriguez said her family’s immigration history motivated her to attend.

“My dad is an immigrant, and he’s not a bad person at all,” Rodriguez said. “I want to speak up for those who can’t, and I know that they can’t, and I want to be the voice that they can’t.”

Others described frustration with what they see as history repeating itself.

“Every human being deserves human rights,” said Rebecca Madison, who said this was her second time attending the River Park protest. “We’re not progressing — we’re going back.”

Grant Harrison, 24, said the current political climate pushed him to attend his first Peace Fresno protest. 

“ When I was growing up, it did not seem as…It feels like a really dark time in our country,” Harrison said. “That’s not something I’m okay with, and I want to speak out against it.”

A Call to Protest

Longtime member Ann Merrill said she has watched participation grow significantly over the past year and more people should be involved.

“People like myself, who have privileged white skin and, you know, college education or whatever. 
To use that privilege to stand with my community members, who are more vulnerable and under attack, right now.”

Several protestors called on Fresno city leaders to take concrete steps to protect undocumented residents, including refusing to cooperate with ICE and increasing transparency around enforcement activity.

“Local officials have power,” Yasin said. “They can refuse to cooperate with ICE and protect people in this community.”

Peace Fresno’s demonstrations take place every Saturday, with times adjusted based on weather. The group also holds open meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Center for Nonviolence near Fresno City College. Organizers said they are considering increasing meeting frequency as interest grows.

“We have an obligation to improve our country, the world, to provide people with their needs, and to enhance humanity,” Merrill said.

For more information on Peace Fresno and upcoming protests visit their website https://www.peacefresno.org/