Rally and protest planned in Venice this weekend

Westside organizations and activists have scheduled a march and rally to support the rights of immigrants and their families for Saturday, February 15, in Venice, Los Angeles. 

The march, organized by grassroots organizers and organizations like the Venice Mexican American Traquero Monument Committee, Unite Here Local 11, Venice Community Housing Corporation, UTLA, Council District 11 Coalition for Human Rights, the Los Angeles Democratic Socialist of America, M.E.Ch.A., the Westside Activists, and Mar Vista Voice, among others, aims to unite residents of L.A.'s Westside in protest of President Donald Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric and the frequent and heavy presence of the Border Patrol and ICE in immigrant communities. 

Organizers said they will also protest against L.A. Councilmember Traci Park, who took over for Mike Bonin after his retirement in 2022. Park represents Venice, which is located in the 11th City Council district of Los Angeles.  The district, which is one of the most populated districts in the city, has a 60% white population, followed by 18.7% Latinos. 

“We refuse to let this go unchallenged. We must come together to send a strong message: our communities will not be intimidated, and we will not allow anti-immigrant policies to take root in our city,” march organizers wrote in a post. 

Organizers of the march also made reference to councilmember Park, saying she “does not stand with immigrants.” 

Although L.A. was declared an official sanctuary city last November, meaning that no city staff or resources could be used to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, such as ICE or USCIS, without a judicial warrant, Park did not vote on the ordinance. She was one of the three council members absent on the day of the ordinance approval.

She later told KNX News' Craig Fiegener she would have voted against it.

As reported by KNX,  she said the sanctuary ordinance could bring retribution to the city from Trump. “It could have the unintended consequence of jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding that Angelenos absolutely rely on,” she said. “This week's effort by the council to [proclaim] Los Angeles as a sanctuary city was really just an act of symbolic resistance.”

“Here on the Westside of L.A., our fight is even more urgent. Under [Park’s] leadership, the Westside is not a safe space for our immigrant neighbor; she has chosen to align herself with Trump instead of protecting vulnerable families,” organizers wrote in the event’s preview. 

This march is just one of many where thousands of protesters are protesting in cities across the United States, including L.A., demonstrating against threats of mass deportation. 

The march will start at 9:30 a.m. and end at noon in Venice at the intersection of California Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard. 

For more information about the event and to RSVP, visit https://www.mobilize.us/marvistavoice/event/754527/