In response to a surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles, a coalition of immigrant rights advocates, labor unions, educators, and artists has launched a 30-day mobilization effort known as the “Summer of Resistance.” The campaign aims to push back against federal immigration enforcement through organized nonviolent action, community education, and public demonstrations.
On Friday, several organizations gathered at La Plazita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles to mark the campaign’s launch, describing recent ICE activity as a crisis not only of policy but of morality. For many community members, the stepped-up raids have resulted in fear, disruption, and what organizers labeled a form of systemic trauma.
“What we have lived through and witnessed in the past few days is terrorism against our community,” said Martha Arévalo, executive director of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN). “We have witnessed kidnappings of our community.”
The “Summer of Resistance” will feature a month of activities modeled after historical civil rights movements. Events will include peaceful demonstrations, public fasting, prayer circles, know-your-rights training sessions, and interactive art installations. Advocates say the goal is to build both awareness and solidarity while equipping immigrants with tools to protect themselves.
“The campaign is rooted in tactics from the civil rights to the farmworker movement, and that’s why we’re here as a united front,” said Vladimir Carrasco of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).
One of the key visual elements of the event was a large art installation of the U.S. Constitution, brought in by a collective of artists. Organizers highlighted the phrase “We the People” as a symbol of inclusive democracy and a reminder of the rights that should apply to all residents, regardless of immigration status.
“The ‘We the People,’ for me, is a reminder of where our power is and who this country is supposed to exist for,” said Bill Moyers, executive director of the Backbone Campaign, which specializes in creative, nonviolent protest strategies.
Teachers and education professionals have also joined the cause, expressing concern for students affected by deportations and ICE actions. Members of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) were present at the rally, sharing personal stories and encouraging families to seek help from schools.
“My father was deported when I was a teenager, and so I know a lot of my students are going through the same thing,” said one teacher.
Sofia Ryan, a child welfare and attendance counselor, encouraged families not to isolate themselves in fear. “Please come to the school and ask to speak with the attendance counselor,” she said. “We can help you find and refer you for housing, immigration, food, and mental health support.”
The organizers say the next 30 days will be filled with grassroots action to push for policy change and provide immediate support to affected communities. They call for an end to what they view as punitive immigration tactics that tear families apart and erode trust in public institutions.
As ICE activity intensifies across Southern California, the “Summer of Resistance” represents a unified stand from those who refuse to stay silent in the face of fear.
