Americans all

The turnout was lower across the country and in Chico, but this year’s May 1 immigration rally was still a success.

Organizations from across Butte County joined to form the Alliance Pro Immigrants Rights and kicked off the rally on the steps of the Chico City Council chambers. There, a timeline of immigration history was laid on the sidewalk (it’s shown here being created), and a diverse group—men, women, children, students, activists, Latinos and whites—cheered speakers and bands while holding signs that read “We are all Americans” and “96% of undocumented men are employed.”

Just after 5 p.m., the group marched through and around downtown, returning around 7 p.m. with drummers pounding away, leading the excited, rain-soaked crowd of around 300. Last year, around 1,000 people marched in Chico, joining around a million nationwide.

“We almost didn’t hold the rally this year,” Chico organizer Rocío Guido-Ferns said. “But with all the raids and families being broken up, we knew we had to do it to raise awareness for immigrants’ rights.”