Sanford police peacefully shut down 'Day without Immigrants' protest
SANFORD, Fla. - Hundreds of people participated in a "Day without Immigrants" protest in Central Florida.
‘I wanted to do it for my community’
What we know:
Organized by Paloma Quintana and Juliana Trejo Ramirez, the protest aimed to highlight the economic impact immigrants have on the U.S. by having participants skip work and school. The demonstration took place near U.S. 17/92 and drew significant attention. Sanford police intervened later due to safety and traffic concerns but reported no injuries or arrests.
The backstory:
The "Day without Immigrants" protest is part of a broader national movement meant to draw attention to the contributions of immigrants, particularly in sectors like food production and construction. The event in Florida was organized by two young women, Paloma Quintana and Juliana Trejo Ramirez, who sought to show solidarity with their community, particularly after recent ICE raids in the area.
The protest emphasizes the critical role immigrants play in the U.S. economy and society, with participants stressing that many industries depend heavily on immigrant labor. Supporters of the protest, like Misty Vasquez-Perez and Katrina Jackson, voiced their solidarity, citing personal connections to immigrant workers. However, the protest also brought concerns about safety and traffic to the forefront.
What they're saying:
The nationwide movement hit Central Florida under the organization of two young women: Paloma Quintana and Juliana Trejo Ramirez.
"I wanted to do it for my community," said Trejo Ramirez. "My dad is Mexican, I’m a Mexican. I have to be here for my people, for my community, not just one solo person… everyone here."
The point of "Day without Immigrants" is to skip work and school, and not contribute to the economy – with the goal of showing the impact the immigrant population has on the United States.
"We’re here to work, we’re here to live our lives, and we’re good people," Quintana said. "We are the backbone for a lot of things going on… restaurants, construction sites… we have businesses here. A day without us? There is no America… there is no America. We are the backbone of this country."
Jennifer Mendez was among the protesters. She stood alongside her 3-year-old sister, Jarely. Mendez said it’s important to show younger generations the benefits their parents and grandparents bring to the United States.
"We’re here to support our Hispanic family and community," Mendez said. "It doesn’t matter if your Guatemalan, Mexican, Honduran, anyone who’s just come here to work… like my poster says, don’t bite the hands that feed you."
The large crowd drew attention from onlookers across the street.
"Without them, we wouldn’t have nothing… our food wouldn’t be picked, our houses wouldn’t be built; my husband is a landscaper, without him yards wouldn’t be mowed," said Misty Vasquez-Perez. "I don’t see anybody else out there willing to do what they do for us."
Another onlooker, Katrina Jackson, said she can relate to the protesters.
"I understand these people’s feelings. My husband was deported 8 years ago back to Haiti," Jackson said. "I feel [for] them… stand up for your rights!"
Near 6:30 p.m., Sanford police officers shut down the demonstration. According to Police Chief Cecil Smith, property managers asked police to step in over traffic and safety concerns.
"We’re not here looking for anyone who is illegal," said Smith. "Our goal, again, is just to make sure that things remained peaceful."
According to the chief, his officers handled things well. Smith said many of them speak Spanish and were able to keep tensions low and keep everyone safe.
"We had no one hurt, we didn’t arrest anyone, we had people who actually said thank you while we were here," Smith said. "I don’t think we damaged our relationship with the Hispanic community in any way."
What we don't know:
Organizers said they chose the specific area because it has a large immigrant population, and it was only about two miles from the Roselea Manor apartments where several people were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last week. There is also no indication of how many people may have been detained by ICE at Roselea Manor apartments.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Sanford Police Department, Day without Immigrants organizers Paloma Quintana and Juliana Trejo Ramirez, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).