 On a beautiful, sunny day, community members took to the streets in Councilmember Traci Park’s neighborhood to send a powerful message against her anti-immigrant stance. As Park aligns herself with Donald Trump’s politics of fear and punishment, her constituents are making it clear that they reject her vision. They marched not just for justice, dignity, and immigrant protections but also to preserve the diverse, working-class roots of Venice, a neighborhood increasingly under threat from gentrification and displacement.
The march was an act of collective defiance and a celebration of community power. Protesters took over the northbound lane of Lincoln Boulevard, marching from California Avenue to Rose Avenue, reclaiming space in a city that has often ignored the voices of the most vulnerable. The energy was electric—cars passing by honked in solidarity, drivers raised their fists in support, and the crowd's chants echoed through the streets. For longtime Venice residents, the march was a poignant reminder of the neighborhood’s historic diversity and the urgent need to fight against the forces pushing out poor and working-class people of color. Venice has long been a cultural crossroads, home to immigrants, artists, activists, and working-class families. But over the years, intense gentrification has pushed out many of the very people who built this vibrant community. Rent hikes, evictions, and aggressive policing have erased Black and Brown communities from Venice’s streets, with developers and wealthier newcomers replacing affordable homes with luxury apartments. Traci Park has aligned herself with law-and-order politics that prioritize criminalization over community support, putting immigrants and unhoused residents at even greater risk. While other Los Angeles leaders have reaffirmed the city’s commitment to sanctuary protections, Park has opposed these efforts, aligning herself with right-wing fear-mongering and divisive rhetoric. The march was not only a demonstration of resistance but also a platform for powerful voices within the community. A diverse lineup of speakers addressed the crowd, each emphasizing the importance of standing in solidarity with immigrants and defending the right to live without fear. The speakers’ words resonated deeply with the crowd, a stark contrast to Traci Park’s stance, which has left many families feeling unsafe and unsupported. The rally’s momentum extended beyond the streets. Organizers are circulating a petition demanding that Traci Park support Los Angeles’ sanctuary policies—a protection overwhelmingly supported by other councilmembers but opposed by Park. Advocates have made it clear that the fight does not end with the march; they are urging community members to sign and share the petition to ensure Park hears their demands. This policy is about more than just symbolic protections—it directly impacts whether immigrants in LA feel safe seeking healthcare, reporting crimes, or accessing city services without fear of deportation. Park’s failure to support these basic protections speaks volumes about who she truly represents—and it isn’t the working-class, immigrant families of her district. The success of this march was a collective effort, made possible by the dedication of numerous grassroots organizations committed to social justice, labor rights, housing security, and immigrant protections. These groups continue to fight every day to build a more inclusive and just Los Angeles:
As the march came to a close, the crowd left with more than just the echoes of their chants—they carried forward a renewed commitment to the fight for justice. The message was clear: Venice belongs to its people—not to developers, not to law-and-order politicians, and certainly not to those who would abandon immigrant families in their time of need.
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