Dozens of people gathered in Reid Park on Monday as part of a nationwide demonstration in solidarity with immigrant communities and the protection of their rights.

Organizers say the “Day Without Immigrants” events served as a collective stand for immigrants, who are often silenced and disregarded while serving as the backbone of the nation’s industries, families, and communities.

Tucson is a city with deep Hispanic and Indigenous roots. As protesters held their signs demanding justice, freedom, and fair immigration policies, they carried more than just messages—they carried the weight of generations of struggle.

Maru Carrasco from the human rights organization Derechos Humanos spoke at the rally, drawing attendees’ attention to the urgency of the moment.

“We have to hit the streets every day and everywhere. We have to let them know that we are not going to take it,” she said. “We’re going to fight Border Patrol. We’re going to fight ICE. We’re going to fight everything they’re doing wrong in this community.”

The protest wasn’t just about policies; it was also about families torn apart by fear, workers who show up every day to make society run, and children who face the uncertainty of a future they shouldn’t have to question.

For Carrasco, the fight is personal. She talked about families being ripped apart by the same policies that sought to erase their existence.

“They’re not taking criminals like they say—they’re taking workers, fathers, and family members who are needed in our communities,” she said. “This has to stop.”

Carrasco’s voice served as a rallying cry for the generations who have fought for their place in this land, a land that often forgets their labor, contributions, and humanity.

“Trump wakes up every day throwing something new at us. We have to keep fighting,” she said. “The greatest thing is seeing people coming together and dealing with what we are all so mad about.”

It wasn’t just adults who stood in defiance. Youth were also well represented at the event, ranging from university students to children who stood barely knee-high. Organizers said the youth presence provided hope, energy, and a willingness to carry on the torch.

Carrasco said the younger generation is the hope for the future, acknowledging that while the older generation continues to fight, the responsibility to carry on this battle now lies with youth.

Cuauhtémoc, a voice of Indigenous solidarity at the protest, pointed out that this wasn’t just an immigration issue—it was a fight for humanity.

“My people are in danger. The people coming from Mexico, Latin America—they’re not just Latinos or Hispanics. They’re Indigenous to this continent,” he said, addressing the struggle for immigrant rights. “For the United States to deny them the land that once pertained to them is inhumane.”

It’s not just about immigrant workers, he said. Immigrants are the invisible hands that power the nation’s economy and are responsible for much of the country’s produce, infrastructure, and food supply. When they are absent, the economy feels the impact, Cuauhtémoc said.

He called on those opposed to immigration to reflect on their own roots, asking, “Where did your grandparents come from?”

Tanya Núñez, a representative from Tucson’s chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said immigrants are the heart of communities.

“Immigrants are workers, caretakers, mothers, fathers, and teachers,” she said. “Families have sacrificed everything to build dignified lives here, despite everything that’s been stolen from them.”

“Free Palestine” flags waved high throughout the event, marking a connection between global struggles. Núñez made ties between racism and capitalism, noting that both systems disproportionately benefit the wealthy elite while oppressing marginalized communities.

She also pointed out that the exploitation of workers, especially immigrants, is part of a larger global system driving wars abroad. She called attention to the militarization of borders, conflicts in countries like Palestine, Chile, and Syria, and the mistreatment of immigrants as symptoms of the same oppressive structures.

These issues, she said, do not benefit the people but instead serve corporations, Wall Street, and the military-industrial complex.

“Immigrants make this country strong. It’s the people, not the billionaires, who make this country what it is,” Núñez said. “The wars abroad and the struggles inside the U.S. are connected. Racism, capitalism, and exploitation affect all of us.”

Núñez’s words were not just a critique; they were a call to action. She urged the crowd to unite against a system that benefits the wealthy and undermines the working class.

“Capitalism is the root cause of many of the injustices we face, and the reason people are forced to leave their homes,” she said. “We believe a better world is possible, one where the government is not controlled by billionaires but by the people.”

She spoke about the strong ties many in the community have to Mexican immigrant families, expressing concerns about the militarization of immigration enforcement. She condemned the prioritization of funding for deportation machines while essential services for the public are being cut.

Núñez also pointed out that anti-immigrant rhetoric is not a recent development, emphasizing that it has been ongoing for years and has been echoed by both political parties, not just the far right.

As the protest continued, the call to action grew louder, with protesters chanting, “People united will never be defeated.”

And for groups like PSL Tucson, this event is just the beginning as they aim to build momentum for an upcoming boycott and walkout on May 1, International Workers’ Day.

Organizers are encouraging workers and students to leave their jobs and classrooms to show that communities will not be divided and will stand together against policies that threaten their rights—especially in Arizona, where immigrant and Indigenous communities have long played a vital role.

“We are going to hit the streets again and again and again. We will not stop,” Carrasco said.

Angelina Maynes is a University of Arizona alum and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at angelinamaynes@arizona.edu.

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