On Saturday, August 2nd, Free State Coalition and a number of resistance groups are holding a two-part march against the Trump administration’s ICE raids, attacks on poor and marginalized communities, and more. Saturday’s “Rage Against the Regime” action calls out local policies, as well.
The first leg of the demonstration will be a car caravan, meeting at Hazlo International Foods on Lombard Street at 9:15 a.m. Demonstrators will decorate cars and be briefed on safety and details about the route. They will leave Hazlo at 10:15 and head to Penn Station, where the foot march and second leg of the demonstration will begin.
At 10:15, marchers will gather at Penn Station to join the Caravan, which should arrive at 11 a.m. Marshals and volunteers will be there to advise participants when and how to join the march.
The route for the march is approximately three miles long, and should end back at Penn Station at around 12:30 p.m. For people who would like to participate, but are unable to walk the full three miles, there is a shorter, modified entry point at the Upton Metro Station. This is at the approximate halfway point, making the route around 1.5 miles long.
Organizers emphasize this is a non-violent action, and any violence or destruction of property will be taken extremely seriously. They urge people to wear sunscreen (even though cooler temperatures are predicted), bring water, and wear comfortable shoes.
Joining Free State Coalition in this action are groups like Indivisible Baltimore County, Federal Unionists Network, Cat Ladies for America: Charm City Chapter, People’s Power Assembly, Baltimore Eyes on ICE, and more.
Literature for the march states this action protests police abuse and killing of Black people without accountability in Baltimore, ICE raids with local law enforcement assistance in Maryland, and federal systems of oppression that criminalize, disenfranchise, and marginalize vulnerable members of our communities.
The purpose of the demonstration is to demand five things:
- The right to organize without fear
- Investment in people, not prisons
- End the war on the poor
- The right to housing, not displacement
- Solidarity with immigrant families
A spokesperson for Free State Coalition told Baltimore Fishbowl that the groups would rather see money funding healthcare for everyone, housing (whether rehabbing homes, affordable housing, decreasing houselessness, aging in place), better transportation infrastructure, access to healthy food, and more, rather than funding prisons.
The spokesperson pointed out that these are the things Trump’s administration gutted to provide billionaires with tax cuts and to turn ICE into the largest federal law enforcement agency in our nation’s history.
People can resist in other ways in addition to marching.
“When your priority is under attack, stand up and fight back (peacefully),” the spokesperson told Fishbowl. “Also, if you’re looking for ideas, review the ‘198 Methods of Nonviolent Action’.”
If ICE shows up in your neighborhood, it’s important to already be connected to groups on social media that are forming rapid response groups and awareness.
“It depends on your location but there are also key accounts on Instagram that can help,” said the spokesperson. “There are also signal chats. It’s important to stay connected with your local immigrant justice organizations, as they will have the most up-to-date info and response protocols tailored to your community.”
Finally, make sure you take time to rest. It is perfectly normal to experience protest fatigue and emotional exhaustion.
“Your contribution to the work is important, and the fight for justice is a marathon, not a sprint,” the spokesperson told Fishbowl. “It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and tired, but don’t let the weight of it all dim your fire. What you do matters. Your voice, your presence, and your passion are crucial to the cause.”
“This moment needs all of us,” they said. “But we are not alone, and we must not give up. We’ll be here when you’re ready to stand again.”
