A crowd of community members gathered for the “March 4 Liberty” protest to stand against policies introduced by the Trump Administration, joining the nationwide “50-50-1 Movement,” which represents 50 protests in 50 states united under one cause, at Liberty Bell in downtown Bakersfield on March 4.
Many voiced their concerns on healthcare access, immigrant rights, opposition to discrimination, and the defense of democracy.
The Trump Administration has introduced a series of policies addressing various sectors: Immigration and Border Security, Economic and Trade Policies, Energy and Environmental Policies, Education, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Throughout the protest, speakers shared how Trump’s policies were harming marginalized communities, undermining human rights, and threatening democracy.
“We are not like our current administration, where we only look out for ourselves. Thank you. And if you do not look like us or love like us, we are not here to try to erase you either,” said protester and advocate Philip Castro.
After Castro speech, the crower erupted in a chant of “Trans Lives Matter!”
Christy Kuhn, protester and community advocate, shared that the current political climate under the Trump Administration as one of the darkest moments she has ever seen.
“I have lived through inspiring decades and dark decades, but right now is the moment I believe our democracy is most in peril. We need to do everything we can: show up, call our representatives, march in the streets, and refuse to be silent,” Kuhn said.
Karina Morales, from the United Farm Workers Foundation, criticized the racial profiling and the criminalization of immigrants under the Trump Administration.
“We will not stand by while our people are being criminalized simply for trying to build a better future for their families,” Morales continued. “Our immigrant community is the backbone of our workforce, our neighborhoods, and our local economy. They are our friends, our family, and our neighbors and they deserve to live with dignity and respect.”
Protester and CSUB professor Gonzalo Santos shared about how his activism began as a teenager in Mexico, where he risked his safety under an authoritarian regime to demand democracy. He connected his history to today and that young people have always led the charge for justice.
“My generation had to dare to go out on the streets and protest, to exercise our democratic rights to demand democracy just like the Chinese youth later on in ‘89 had to do in Tiananmen Square, and just like the young people of the civil rights movement did right here in the United States,” said Santos.
Santos called for a unified stand against Trump’s policies, which he characterized as harmful to the global fight for peace, justice, and democracy.
“We need to struggle together. No more compartmentalizing of our issues,” he said.
