Jovana Calivillo a lead organizer with Somerville for Palestine and of the rally sharing her story growing up as a Mexican immigrant.

On Saturday, March 8, 200 Somerville residents rallied in support of our immigrant neighbors in front of the East Somerville Library for two hours in 30-degree temperatures. The rally featured Somerville residents sharing their immigrant stories and loudly declaring their existence here. Many local organizations shared their ongoing work and commitment to support immigrant communities during national attacks on immigrants and undocumented people. Rally attendees joined calls for an end to deportations and ICE raids, for Maura Healey to declare Massachusetts a Sanctuary State, to uphold Somerville’s sanctuary city status, and for city elected officials to affirm immigrants’ important role and right to be in our city and schools.

The rally was organized by Somerville for Palestine and other supporting organizations included Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS), Cosecha MA, Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Somerville Educators Union, Somerville Educators for Sanctuary Schools, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW),  Connexion Church, Padres Latinos, Brazilian Women’s Group, TPS Alliance of MA, and The Welcome Project.

Doris of the Temporary Protected Status Alliance of Massachusetts shared how solidarity is essential during these times of increased attacks on immigrant and undocumented people: “An attack on one is an attack on all. We are living through difficult times where fear is being imposed on our communities, leaving immigrant families terrified. Yet, I stand here to call on all of us to unite. Unity is our most powerful tool to overcome the hateful policies targeting our people.”

Tania Chaman, a Padres Latinos member, performing a song from her band Curazon.

Speakers’ spoke in English or Spanish, and interpreters assisted interpreting to make sure all of the speakers’ words were heard in English and Spanish. Two speakers spoke in Portuguese as well. The rally featured chants, songs, speeches, and poetry. Many of the signs supporters held read “Immigrants Matter,” “No Borders, No Walls, Freedom for All,” and “No One Is Illegal on Stolen Land”.

Oscar, a Guatemalan resident of Somerville and member of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, shared how our commitment to our immigrant neighbors is connected to the struggle for liberation: “Both here at home and in Palestine where families are ripped apart by violent raids every single day and night. In Palestine, people have survived and persevered through a genocide. A genocide that was meant to strike fear and divide the Palestinian people. But did it? No, it did not. Instead, they organized and resisted the brutal Israeli government.  And that is what we must do as well here at home: resist.”

Oscar from PSL calling for Governor Maura Healey to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state and sharing his immigrant story.

Nicole Eigbrett, Co-Executive Director of Asian American Resource Workshop, provided key connections between these struggles:

The Asian diaspora in Somerville and Boston is diverse, but the root cause of why many of us migrated here are intertwined with neighbors from Central and South America and the Caribbean: U.S. militarism and imperialism. Just like the Wars in Southeast Asia, with 2025 marking the 50th anniversary – U.S. militarism has fueled violence and political instability in El Salvador, Haiti, Brazil, Honduras, and countless other nations – and most recently, 466 days of genocide in Gaza. The movement for immigrant justice must also be a movement to end U.S. militarism globally.

Neda, a Palestinian resident of Somerville and the daughter of Palestinian refugees, further connected these parallels and encouraged people to get involved, “In these times of uncertainty, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with fear, but as my mom told me, always look for the helpers.  In every trying time, in every moment of need, look around and you will find people who will help, support, protect, and stand by you, with you, and for you. If you can, become the helper. Join a local organization like Somerville for Palestine, MAMAS (Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville), and Somerville community fridges, to name a few.”

Cesar, a seventh-grade math teacher at the East Somerville Community School and a member of the Somerville Educators for Sanctuary Cities, affirmed the importance of creating an educational environment where all children and families are welcome: “We believe that all children and families in our sanctuary city, regardless of immigration or documentation status, have a right to an equitable educational environment where they are welcomed, respected, cherished, and protected.”

Somerville is a sanctuary city, and has been for 30 years. A sanctuary city is a municipality that does not prosecute or arrest immigrants solely for violating federal immigration laws. Nearly 30% of Somerville residents are immigrants, meaning this issue is close to heart for many.

Protestor holding “Immigrants Are Welcome Here” sign.

Neda shared: “There is a poem in Arabic that translates to English as: ‘the spears are stronger together and when separated are broken one after one.’  Look around you today, at all the friends and allies here and know that these are not the only people who will fight for you. Lean on each other, stay united, and fight together. Together we are undefeatable.  Together, we will thrive. Together, we belong.”

Eigbrett, leader of AARW and longtime Somerville tenant organizer, concluded her remarks by sharing, “There’s a saying in the SEA [South East Asian] community that goes, ‘We are here because the U.S. was there.’ But now here is our home, and we immigrants have the right to remain. Join us in fighting the U.S. deportation machine and the legacies of imperialism that created it.”

Somerville for Palestine is an inclusive local, community-led group who formed in response to Israel’s U.S.-funded genocide against the Palestinian people and is united in steadfast advocacy for Palestinian liberation. Our coalition members represent a diversity of faiths, races, ages, gender identities, abilities and cultural heritage, all standing in explicit solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom, self-determination, and full human and civil rights from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea.

— Text and photos courtesy of Somerville for Palestine and other supporting organizations included Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS), Cosecha MA, Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Somerville Educators Union, Somerville Educators for Sanctuary Schools, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW),  Connexion Church, Padres Latinos, Brazilian Women’s Group, TPS Alliance of MA, and The Welcome Project.