The idea just came to them last night, said Romaine Charite, a member of Oakland Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression, after news spread of the planned deployment of federal officers to the Bay Area. A rally at Fruitvale Plaza.

Less than 24 hours later, more than 100 people were gathered outside Fruitvale BART Station Thursday afternoon for a rally to protest the arrival of federal agents in the Bay Area. 

Protesters begin to gather at Oakland’s Fruitvale Plaza around 4 p.m. on on Oct. 23, 2025 to oppose a major immigration enforcement operation in the Bay Area. Credit: Florence Middleton for the Oaklandside

A protester leads a chant at the Fruitvale Plaza rally. Credit: Florence Middleton for The Oaklandside

After roughly a half an hour of chants and brief speeches, the group marched onto 35th Avenue and then down International Boulevard as drivers honked their horns in support, before heading off to the entrance to Coast Guard Island, where Customs and Border Protection agents began to arrive early this morning. 

“We want ICE and CPB out of the Bay Area,” Charite said. “We know they said they said they won’t be going into San Francisco right away, but Trump has also said he plans to put boots on the ground in Oakland. We know that when the people have shown up in other cities to confront agents, they get scared. If we can slow down the attacks on our valuable community members, that’s a win.”

Charite later led the crowd in a chant that’s become familiar since Donald Trump’s reelection, “No ICE! No KKK! No racist USA!”

The East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Indivisible East Bay, and Oakland Community Service Organization joined in organizing the rally. 

Protesters set out down 35th Avenue on their way to the entrance of Coast Guard Island, where the Coast Guard is assisting a large Customs and Border Patrol operation. Credit: Florence Middleton for the Oaklandside

The march continues, blocking traffic along 35th Avenue. Credit: Florence Middleton for The Oaklandside

Many in the crowd carried handmade signs, including ones that read, “Feds Out! Stop the deportations,” “Full citizenship rights for all immigrants,” and “Crowns for no one. Legalization for everyone.”

Dale Harrington, who came out for the rally, has lived in Oakland since 1979 and said the last time he saw so much grassroots political action in the city was following the killing of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer, right here at Fruitvale Station. 

“I think Trump is trying to justify imposing the insurrection act,” Harrington said. “That’s why he’s sending the troops here and stirring up all this unrest.” 

Adelaida, a student at Berkeley City College, who asked that we not use her last name because several of her family members, most of whom came from Guatemala five years ago, are undocumented, said she was speaking up and marching because they can’t.

“They can’t go out, they can’t march, and I want to do it for them and all the immigrants who don’t have a voice,” she said. “They need to know that they are not alone, that we’re fighting.”

Protesters turn onto International Avenue on their way to Coast Guard Island. Credit: Florence Middleton for the Oaklandside

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