On Monday night, the Mission District of San Francisco was filled with as many as 10,000 protesters voicing their opposition to ICE activities in California. The demonstration was part of an ongoing wave of public dissent against the federal agency and its operations in the state, including recent raids in Southern California.
Concerns have also been raised regarding President Donald Trump’s recent decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines amid escalating protests, prompting criticism of the move as a poorly funded and controversial measure. According to reports, guardsmen are currently having to sleep on cement floors in basements due to a lack of resources.
Sunday’s protests reportedly resulted in around 154 arrests, setting the stage for a continued demonstration on Monday night. Organizers estimated that over 10,000 people participated in the evening march, with at least 5,000 confirmed.
While most of the protest remained peaceful, there were reports of graffiti on storefronts such as McDonald’s and Wells Fargo. However, these actions were eclipsed by the main demonstration’s message, which highlighted the call for immigrant rights and justice.
The protests commenced around 4 pm with speeches at City Hall, where local leaders addressed the concerns of their communities. San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood made a bold statement, declaring that anyone targeting residents in his district would have to deal with him directly.
As the march progressed to Mission Street, participants chanted powerful phrases, including:
– “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state”
– “No justice, no peace. No ICE or police”
– “Up, up with immigration. Down, down with deportation”
Among the demonstrators, Sabina Wildman of the Party for Socialism and Liberation highlighted the interconnectedness of labor rights and immigrant rights, asserting that any attack on immigrants poses a threat to all workers.
One protester, speaking into a megaphone from the back of a pick-up truck, voiced frustration regarding the city’s sanctuary city status, pointing out instances of violence against immigrants by law enforcement.
The initial part of the protest, lasting from 6 to 9 pm in the Mission District, displayed significant coordination with the police, who cleared streets and communicated with protest ambassadors to ensure a smooth march.
Despite the tense atmosphere, upmarket restaurants in the area, including Delfina, opted to close for the night to avoid any potential disruption, although diners reported no harassment from protesters.
Though some storefronts experienced minor vandalism, including tagging directed at Wells Fargo and Vanguard Properties, efforts were made to protect innocent businesses from damage. An amusing incident involved a protester wearing a Viking helmet wielding a hockey stick adorned with a Mexican flag, who attempted to shield a McDonald’s from graffiti attempts.
The Mission District protest concluded peacefully and had fully dispersed by 9:30 pm. Unfortunately, a smaller splinter group, estimated to comprise around 80 individuals, sought to escalate tensions by moving towards Civic Center later that night. This resulted in police declaring an unlawful assembly at Market Street and Van Ness Avenue and employing pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Reports also surfaced that windows were smashed at Valencia Street café Manny’s as this smaller group stirred up trouble.
A late statement from SFPD acknowledged the peaceful nature of the majority of the day’s demonstrations while condemning the actions of the splinter groups. They reported that thousands participated in the protests and committed to detaining individuals involved in the vandalism.
The events on Monday were part of an ongoing series of demonstrations against ICE actions in San Francisco. As tensions persist, it seems likely that further protests are on the horizon, allowing community members to voice their concerns over immigration rights in the face of ongoing governmental threats.
Images capturing the spirit of protest were shared among participants, many featuring strong messages against ICE and the current administration, with some signs containing profanity.
In the coming days, it remains to be seen how the city will respond to these continual protests and the implications they have for immigration policy and community relations within San Francisco.
image source from：https://sfist.com/2025/06/10/thousands-pack-the-mission-for-ice-protest-but-sfpd-pulls-pepper-spray-on-separate-small-civic-center-protest/
