Happening soon: Rally set in downtown Modesto for ‘A Day Without Immigrants’
Modesto area residents will gather Monday afternoon, Feb . 3, for “A Day Without Immigrants,” a rally protesting President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Organized by the Central Valley BIPOC Coalition, the demonstration will take place at Tenth Street Plaza at noon, and is expected to feature Aztec dancers. The coalition, which brings together grassroots organizations from across the Central Valley, focuses on activism and community-building.
Sebastian Cervantes, a 28-year-old organizer with CVBIPOCC, said the event is meant to highlight the vital role immigrant workers play in the region’s economy, particularly in agriculture and other essential industries.
“We’re here to show community and solidarity for each other,” Cervantes said.
Participants in “A Day Without Immigrants” are encouraged to refrain from going to work, school or shopping to simulate what the city would look like without immigrants’ contributions.
The day first was observed on Feb. 16, 2017, shortly after Trump took office during his first administration. That year, business owners in cities across the country closed their shops in solidarity with the movement.
Cervantes said that fears of ICE raids have intensified since Trump’s presidency, with some families too afraid to go to work or send their children to school.
On Sunday, a related protest at Stanislaus State University in Turlock drew more than 100 participants, including young organizers, families and children dressed in cultural attire. Demonstrators gathered to make signs and voice their concerns about the Trump administration’s policies.
“For Turlock, I hear it’s conservative, but to see that people are out here and they are able to get out of their comfort zones to show up and be present for each other” is encouraging, Cervantes said.
Cervantes said he also hopes the Tenth Street Plaza event will inspire others to step into leadership roles and become more involved in activism. He said the organizers are just everyday people, and anyone who wants to participate is welcome to join.
“We really try to strive for having these people show up and realize that they also have the potential to become leaders in their own communities, too,” he said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM.
