Crowds gathered at Mariachi Plaza on Inauguration Day to protest President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, voicing concerns about his policies and calling for justice and equity.
Organized by Centro CSO, a group advocating for Chicano self-determination and social justice, the rally focused on Trump’s mass deportation plan but also called for reproductive rights and solidarity with Palestine.
The protest on Monday began hours before Trump signed a series of executive orders, including revoking birthright citizenship, a move already facing legal challenges as the Constitution protects birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
The moves and Trump’s pledges of mass deportations have heightened fears within immigrant communities across the country, particularly in Boyle Heights, where many residents are undocumented or part of mixed-status families.
Carlos Montes, a representative of Centro CSO, emphasized the group’s mission to defend the rights and quality of life of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles residents. The protest’s key demand was the immediate legalization of 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization.
“We’re saying no deportations, and we’re raising the demand for legalization for all,” Montes declared to a crowd of about 100 people.
Inauguration protest at Mariachi Plaza on Jan. 20, 2025. Photos by Genesis Peña.
While a far cry from rallies held in 2016, the plaza, was alive with chants of “¡Aquí estamos y no nos vamos!” (We are here, and we aren’t leaving!), as families, students, and activists held signs demanding justice. Posters proclaimed, “Stop Deportations” and “Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights.” Drummers and mariachi musicians amplified the protest’s energy, blending cultural pride with political defiance.
Beatriz Lumbreras, an immigrant from Mexico and L.A. resident of 35 years said she joined the protest because she believes Trump’s policies are part of a broader threat aimed at creating division and fear among vulnerable communities.
“We want to tell Donald Trump… that we are not leaving,” Lumbreras stated. “We are not afraid, and we will continue uniting more and more each day to keep working…This place represents migration from many years ago, throughout all of history. This is our land, our stolen land. And we are simply standing on it.”
East L.A. resident Fernando Easton stood proudly holding a large “Free Palestine” flag. He shared that as a child of immigrants, his presence at the rally was deeply personal. For Easton, the protest was not only about opposing Trump’s policies but also about standing up for marginalized communities that have long been pushed aside, he said.
“It’s paramount that we voice ourselves and we’re out here and take a stand against fascism, against colonization, against white supremacy and all these other narratives that are just pushed against us and are used to try to keep us down,” Easton said.
Much of Centro CSO’s work has focused on community-led initiatives addressing housing, police accountability, public education, and immigration. The organization’s members have stressed the interconnectedness of these issues, particularly as they relate to the struggles of undocumented residents.
At the rally, community members heard from local leaders, including L.A. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and LAUSD board member Rocio Rivas.
Their presence, Montes hoped, signaled their commitment to strengthening L.A.’s sanctuary city policies as well as addressing the systemic issues impacting Boyle Heights, a neighborhood, known for its rich history of activism and Chicano movements.
“We hope [Jurado] will work with other councilmembers to provide funding for youth programs, senior programs, parks, libraries, and mental health resources—less money for police,” Montes explained.