News & Commentary

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Video of the entire press conference is here.

Don’t side with Trump, Stand with California video is here.

To sign our petition and more visit sdstandsup.org.

Call your supervisor at 619-432-6700.

Norma Chavez-Peterson: “… we are here together say to our County Board of Supervisor: do not side with Trump, Stand with us, San Diegans, Stand with California against the administration’s attack on California. We ask Chairwoman Gaspar, who is currently running for congress and docketed the item for April 17, pull the item off the agenda. We ask that our other Board of Supervisors visibly and vocally stand up with San Diegans and California and publicly declare their vote a no and join us in asking Chairwoman Gaspar to remove the item from the docket.”

Verna Griffin-Tabor: “I’m the CEO for the Center for Community Solutions. We’re the only rape crisis center for the City of San Diego and most of the County and we also offer healing and prevention for domestic violence. I’m here today because what we see on a daily basis, if the closed sessions goes forward could put women and children at risk. When local police officers and sheriff’s deputies act as deportation agents trust and confidence in law enforcement is eroded. If it is eroded people who have been raped and been victims of domestic violence may not call for help and increases the likelihood of harm or death… Many time survivors are brought to this country. They have every right to legal status but the perpetrators of violence use their legal status as a weapon, one more way of power and control. So, please Board of Supervisors hear our voice for the safety and wellbeing of our community and pull this item from the agenda next Tuesday.”

Pastor Terrell Fletcher: “We as a community of faith and Californians in general, we value family and we value the reality of a child being raised with his mom and dad and with his parents. … Families are an American value and our White House and their policies are threatening something that is very core to the greatness of America. … We implore our county leaders not to vote with these policies.”

Vilavanh Sanginthirath: “I launched my business to create opportunities for education, empowerment and entrepreneurship for our community members. I made this decision because I know first-hand the collective talents of all our people. From laborers to entrepreneurs and leading CEOs our economy is strong because we have embraced immigrants. In fact, I am the byproduct of first generation immigrant parents and there are hundreds and thousands of people like me who simply need an opportunity and a chance to make something of themselves.”

Christiana Russell: “Born and raised in Los Angeles, later moving to Arizona, where I graduated and worked for nearly 10 years in mental health and prevention education, I saw first-hand how an anti-immigrant policy also known as SB 1070 negatively impacted households, community relations and ultimately the economy… I am urging the supervisors to prioritize the health and well-being of our community over political rhetoric.”

David Garcias: “Statewide we represent over 700,000 workers and their families and SEIU is proud to have helped sponsor the act that protects immigrants and we want to make sure that we continue this fight to protect all workers. Workers should be treated equally no matter what their immigration status. California is the sixth largest economy in the world and it’s because we have embraced immigrants. And they are Californians just like all of us…We want to make sure the Board of Supervisors do not vote on this. … This is not a fight that our community wants.

Ismahan Abdullahi: “I stand here as a refugee who fled a civil war with my family with nothing but the clothes on our back. And like me, many refugee and immigrant families have endured hardship, and tragedies to flee to the shores of America. And with the hopes of starting a new life and be a part of the American dream. The American dream means something unique and powerful to a newcomer famil