Statement by George Galvis, Executive Director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), on the Trump administration’s use of fear tactics and masked federal agents to intimidate Bay Area communities ahead of the critical Prop 50 vote
“Trump has spent weeks threatening to deploy federal immigration troops to the Bay Area, creating a constant state of fear and uncertainty in our communities. Even as he temporarily walked back plans for a San Francisco “surge” this week, masked federal agents were already in Oakland Thursday morning, throwing flash-bang grenades at peaceful protesters and faith leaders attempting to block their access to Coast Guard Island.
Oakland (Special to ZennieReport.com) – Trump’s escalating threats combined with militarized raids are designed to keep Black and Brown communities afraid and at home, too scared to organize or mobilize at a pivotal moment when California voters will head to the polls to decide Proposition 50 — redistricting that could determine control of the House of Representatives in next year’s midterm elections.
We’ve seen this pattern in Chicago, Los Angeles, and now Oakland, where federal agents deploy militarized force while San Francisco sees only threats. The pattern is clear: actual enforcement concentrates on communities of color and working-class neighborhoods, regardless of which Bay Area city officials issue public statements of resistance.
While we’re glad elected leaders have pushed back on Trump’s threats, words are not enough. California has a law requiring law enforcement to be unmasked — passed to ensure accountability, which they flouted just this morning as they assaulted peaceful protestors. If California’s masking ban is truly about accountability and public safety, then it must apply to everyone including federal agents operating in our state.
We call on California law enforcement to enforce this law uniformly. Unmask these agents. Hold them to the same standard they claim to uphold. Anything less proves this law was never about justice for all, but about controlling which communities can protest while giving a pass to those terrorizing our neighborhoods.
In the absence of equal protection under the law, our communities will do what we have always done: take care of each other. We are calling on all Bay Area residents to actively protect their neighbors. Go to the grocery store for them, take their children to school, support their small businesses, and stand between our community members and agents who are tearing families apart. Document everything. Know your rights.
We will continue organizing community defense networks to support impacted families and peacefully resist these racist attacks on our communities.
The Bay Area will not be intimidated. We will organize. We will mobilize. And we will vote. We will protect our own. We will not abandon our values, and we will not allow our neighbors to be criminalized for existing.”
To request an interview with George Galvis, contact Haley Kubik at haley@emccommunications.com or 425-260-4100.