Longtime activist David Cruz says he aspires to the famed advice often cited from fellow activist and former U.S. Congressman John Lewis: “Get in good trouble.”

The long-time Central Valley resident and worker was one of hundreds of protesters who rallied at Stockton’s Victory Park on Wednesday evening against recent deportations.

Cruz says he’s been helping to organize marches since high school, including those with Dolores Huerta, an American labor leader and feminist activist, and Cesar Chavez, a civil rights activist who fought for the rights of farm workers. As someone who works in the migrant community supporting families with children, Cruz wanted to show up for his people.

“Because these are the people that won’t come out,” Cruz said, holding a Mexican flag over his shoulder. “They’re afraid. I know they’re afraid, so I feel like I have to do my part to speak up for them, to defend them, to be out here, to be the voice for them.”

Hundreds of protesters — including kids and adults — gathered at Stockton’s Victory Park Wednesday, June 11, 2025, to rally against deportations and recent actions of ICE and the Trump administration. Waving flags and holding handmade signs, participants marched and chanted peacefully throughout the park, calling for justice, dignity and immigrant rights. (Video by Daniel Garza/Stocktonia)

Many people are angry with the Trump administration’s deportation policies and actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since President Donald Trump took office in January. Protests have been held across the country in recent days following ICE raids in Los Angeles over the weekend, where the federal deployment of National Guard troops to quell demonstrators have sparked outrage from both state and local government officials.

Alyssa Leiva, a community organizer with Stockton Stands and Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities (EMAC) Stockton, told Stocktonia that Wednesday’s rally was about showing solidarity with fellow organizers in Los Angeles, Sacramento and the Bay Area.

“We want to reiterate to the community that immigrants belong in Stockton, and we have organized organizers ready on the front lines to prevent ice from deporting our neighbors,” said Leiva, whose organizations helped host the protest. “And we also just want to build some more solidarity for immigrant rights in this time.”

More anti-ICE protests are scheduled in Stockton this weekend, including a “Solidarity with LA” march Friday at 6 p.m. on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, as well as a “No Kings” march Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. near San Joaquin Delta college on Pacific Avenue

Check out more of our coverage of Wednesday’s anti-ICE protest below

A person shouting at a protest, holding a sign with bold black text.
A young person wearing a colorful headdress holds a sign with the Mexican flag and hearts.
A protestor holding a sign that reads "ABOLISH ICE END DEPORTATIONS" among a group of demonstrators.
People holding protest signs, including one that says “ICE Out of San Joaquin County” and another that says “SANCTUARY.”
A young person holding a large Mexican flag walks on a park path, surrounded by others.
A child holding a protest sign reading "WE SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T" and "#Immigrants Lives MATTER" at a demonstration, surrounded by adults.
Participants at a public event, one holding a Mexican flag and high-fiving another person.
A group at a demonstration, featuring a man holding a child and a woman with a sign about immigrants.
A diverse group of people at an outdoor demonstration holding signs and taking photos with smartphones.
Person with tattoo taking a photo at a rally with flags and protest signs in the background.
A person holding a sign that reads "ICE Out of San Joaquin County" at a protest in a park.
A diverse group of people at a protest with signs and flags, gathered outside a museum.
Protesters holding signs during a demonstration.
Two children at a rally hold a sign stating "IMMIGRANT Rights Are HUMAN rights," with others holding placards and a Mexican flag in the background.
Person holding a sign with text in front of a tree. Sign reads: "From the walkouts to the raids... LA LUCHA SIGUE!"
A person draped in a Mexican flag speaks into a megaphone at an outdoor gathering.
A person holds a sign with the words "SANCTUARY" and "KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER," depicting silhouettes of two figures embracing.
A person holding a sign with a message about safety and suppression. The sign reads: "IT'S NOT ABOUT SAFETY IT'S ABOUT SUPPRESSION."

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