Fresno saw a weekend of protests against ICE and the current administration as tensions rise over different topics affecting the country.
Hundreds of people gathered near Fashion Fair Mall and in Tower District to express their frustration with current affairs in regards to ICE surges and voting rights as the midterm election nears.
No violent clashes were reported.
Tower District was home to two of the protests, one on the night of Friday, Oct. 16 and the other on the night of Saturday, Oct. 17, both organized under the name, “Tower District Against ICE” The protests took place on all four corners of Olive and Wishon Avenue in front of the Tower Theatre from 8 p.m to around midnight.
The other protest, part of a nationwide organized No Kings protest, was held on Saturday morning. This was the fourth No Kings protest since it began in 2025 and was held on Shaw Avenue from the front of Fashion Fair to the Highway 41 overpass.
According to the No Kings website, this round of protests was focused largely on voting rights.
The last No Kings protest was held March 28 at River Park and focused on different issues brought on by the U.S. government.
Since that protest, the war in Iran has intensified, prices have risen exponentially, ICE has continued its efforts to detain people, and topics like President Trump’s involvement in the Epstein Files and the genocide in Palestine have maintained public attention.
Friday night’s protest focused on ICE’s recent surge in the Central Valley.
The protestors took breaks to dance to music blasting from speakers.
Casita Feliz, a nonprofit organization that provides safe spaces for Latine LGBTQ+ communities, organized the event.
Lady Diana Feliz Oliva, founder and CEO of Casita Feliz, spoke about the event’s beginnings, pointing to the shooting of an off-duty ICE agent last weekend as a catalyst for its organization.
“After that, it woke me up and I knew Casita Feliz needed to get involved,” Oliva said. “Our people, especially our queer undocumented people, are being kidnapped, human trafficked, deported and detained.”
This was the first protesting event Casita Feliz organized.
Oliva offered free food and water to protestors at a stand with more information on Casita Feliz.
“We’re telling our Tower residents, our community and all of Fresno and the Central Valley that ICE is not welcome here,” Oliva said, stressing the importance of protesting against injustice.
Fresno City College students also participated in protesting.
Mya Luminux, a social work major at FCC, spoke to the protestors through a megaphone, urging them to take action.
“I’m here to support our migrant workers, our dreamers, our brown people,” Luminux said.
To fellow students who may be looking to help, Luminux said, “find out how you can help and volunteer. Do not stay quiet. Speak up and be proud to be who you are and do not succumb to fear.”
Among the waving signs and booming music was an altar decorated with marigolds (cempasúchiles in Spanish) and pictures of those who were killed by ICE.
A photo of the alter decorated with marigolds (cempasúchiles in Spanish) and pictures of those who were killed by ICE. At Tower Theatre on Oct. 16. (Photo by: Nicholas Polenz)
The altar was set up by Bryan Estrada next to the Casita Feliz stand, who said he wanted to honor those who have passed as well as helping bring people together during hard times.
“These types of spaces are oftentimes perceived as very scary, very loud and very overwhelming, but there’s healing here. There’s a community here. There’s people coming together, supporting and rallying for those that are hurting in the world,” Estrada said.
He also urged students who want to get involved to keep an open mind to new traditions.
“Delve deep, ask your parents about where they’re from, who they are, get to know their story,” said Estrada.
No Kings Protest on Oct. 17
The next morning was the No Kings protest, which drew a larger crowd than the night before.
Signs were spread out over Highway 41 on Shaw Avenue for the No Kings protest on Oct. 17. (Photo by: Nicholas Polenz)
Hundreds of protestors spread out over almost a mile of Shaw Avenue Saturday morning, Oct. 17. (Photo by: Nicholas Polenz)
This protest was just one of the No Kings protests that occurred in the valley Saturday morning with Clovis, Madera, Visalia and more also participating.
One of the organizers, Patty Capelluti, who founded the local Indivisible chapter Central Valley Indivisible, spoke about the effort to encourage voting in the upcoming midterm elections.
“We need this to be a landslide election, one that can not be disputed,” Capelluti said.
Voting’s not the only reason people were protesting, according to Capelluti..
“We’re also voicing our displeasure with ICE and all of their horrific tactics as well as voicing our displeasure with the current administration,” Capelluti said.
Groups such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) also attended to provide information about what they do.
One of their members, Liam, a communications major at FCC who preferred to only give his first name, spoke on why they joined the protest that day.
“We’re here to meet the people of Fresno where they are, protesting against how the Trump regime is attacking voting rights, freedom of assembly and immigrant rights,” Liam said. “Here in Fresno, immigrants make up such a large number of our community. They are not just workers, they are friends, family and neighbors.”
People at the protest demonstrated solidarity and a sense of hopefulness for the community.
“It’s kind of easy to look at the current situation of things and say, ‘we’re getting nowhere’ but so many people are out here because they have hope, because things are going to get better. I think change starts right here within the community,” Liam said.
It’s currently unknown if another No Kings protest will be held.