Dozens of SAC and Alamo Colleges students joined hundreds of protestors at Travis Park Friday afternoon for a National Day of Action calling for a general strike and protest against nationwide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
“I left work to be here today, and I’m going to lose a day’s pay for this,” fine arts major Anna Bellizio said. “I think students should know that this is their right (to protest) and it’s the culture of college students.”
The protests are in response to the shooting deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, and Keith Porter Jr. by federal agents amid immigration enforcement.
Speakers from several organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, the League of United Latin American Citizens, 50501 and more, addressed the crowd as they shared how the Trump administration and its policies are affecting them.
“I’m coming out for my people, the people who have lived before me and the people who have fought for this city that’s built off immigrants,” Criminal Justice major Emma Salinas said. “It’s sad we have to stand here fighting for what they fought for many years later. We’re in 2026 and it’s time for change to happen but we’re still stuck on the same things they were doing many years ago.”
A performance by local musician, Roberto Livar of the band, Bombasta, gave listeners Cumbia music with politically-charged lyrics of working class solidarity and social justice to dance to.
With over 300 nationwide protests and general strikes taking place, local businesses shut down Friday or are donating a percentage of profits to social causes.
“The more voices that are out here and the more voices that are heard is what’s needed and there ain’t no power like power to the people,” Salinas said. “This is going to do something because at the end of the day, the people who make the people rich are us here today.”
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