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This month’s original hallmark local event, in solidarity with groups across the country participating in a Global Day of Action, will be a “No War on Venezuela!” protest on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1250 Jefferson Ave.
The demonstration follows President Trump’s Jan. 3 directive targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, tied to his stated interest in the country’s oil reserves and allegations of narco-trafficking posing national security threats.
Throughout January, local groups are planning continued demonstrations and organizing efforts around immigration, foreign policy and civil resistance.
Earlier this month, Indivisible Mid-Peninsula, a local grassroots organizing group, joined mobilizers nationwide for an “ICE Out Now” protest at the corner of El Camino Real and Jefferson Avenue. The emergency demonstration was prompted by the death of Renee Nicole Good, 37, who was fatally shot in her car by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis, as well as the shooting of two people in Portland by U.S. Border Patrol. Federal officials allege those involved in the Portland incident were affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.
“I’m a white, 77-year-old, upper-middle-class woman,” said Indivisible organizer JoAnn Loulan of Portola Valley. “If they arrest me, I know 20 lawyers and I can pay for them to come and help me. People like me need to be out there.”
Also, earlier this month, One Million Rising, a national movement launched last summer, hosted a “non-cooperation” training event focused on strategies drawn from other anti-authoritarian movements.
“If you’ve been feeling dread and are not sure what to do about it,” the event description stated, “understanding what’s happening and how to respond is critical.”
Looking ahead, the group Showing Up for Racial Justice will continue to meet every Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the corner of El Camino Real and Jefferson Avenue to mobilize around environmental justice, housing justice, immigration rights and reimagined public safety systems.
Additional demonstrations planned later this month include a Martin Luther King Jr. Day action on Jan. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Highway 92 in Half Moon Bay, as well as a “Nationwide Walk Out” on Jan. 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. in San Jose, with the location still pending. The walk-out is being organized by Women’s March and 50501, a coalition coordinating protests in all 50 states.
In a video featured in an Indivisible newsletter titled “Yes, protests work,” National Lawyers Guild spokesperson Brad Thompson said demonstrations play a key role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy.
“History has shown us that protests play an essential role in social movements,” Thompson said, “and that’s not just in this country, but around the world.”
Local organizers say continued participation is critical.
“If we don’t do anything, we’re gonna lose this democracy,” Loulan said.
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to reflect recent events.
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