Organizer: ‘I want immigration reform. I want people who deserve to be here, to stay here.’
By Mason Chambless
Original Air Date: June 11, 2025
Host: The events in Los Angeles surrounding ICE raids, protests and rioting, are making ripples here, too. A local immigrant rights advocate has scheduled a march across the bridge in Bradenton this Monday in response. This is the second immigrants’ rights protest in this region within a week, and Mason Chambless has more on that.
Mason Chambless: “Fight for Immigrant Rights” is the call of next week’s march from Manatee County Courthouse in downtown Bradenton to Palmetto across Green Bridge. The march will start at noon, leaving from the courthouse.
Protesters in Tampa showed up in support of immigrant rights. Photos by Mason Chambless
The timing of the march will coincide with union president David Huerta’s court hearings. Huerta—who heads the California chapter of SEIU—was injured and detained in Los Angeles on Friday during an anti-ICE protest. He is being charged with a felony for “conspiracy to impede an officer.” Organizers for the march say that Huerta was peacefully watching before being “assaulted, injured and detained.”
The Bradenton march is organized by Unidos Tampa Bay, a group started by Junior Salazar. Salazar lives in Bradenton and has been rallying Floridians to push back against anti-immigration policies and sentiment.
This march is happening on the heels of Monday’s protest outside Tampa City Hall, which Salazar helped organize. Some protesters let their disapproval of ICE raids and deportations be known.
“Families belong together”
Speaker: It is right to rebel!
Protesters: It is right to rebel!
Speaker: ICE go to Hell!
Protesters: ICE go to Hell!
MC: When asked, via text, why he hosts these protests and what he would consider to be a successful one, Salazar said that “A successful protest, for me, is one where our message is heard clearly, where our community feels empowered, and where we foster solidarity and public attention without resorting to violence.”
And non-violence is key for Salazar. To help ensure that the events remain peaceful, Salazar holds training and discussions that emphasize the importance of “Uplift[ing] voices, not escalat[ing] tensions.”
While high tensions and riot-like moments in downtown LA are receiving wide media coverage, the protest this week in Tampa maintained an overall sense of peace. A few bursts of conflict did arise amidst confrontations with counter-protesters; however, these were swiftly de-escalated by other protesters and allowed for minimal police interference.
Junior Salazar.
Of the Tampa protest, Salazar said via text, “I am incredibly proud of how our community came together. The protest was peaceful, powerful, and filled with a sense of unity. We saw families, young people, elders—all standing together for justice. The energy was positive, and we got the attention we needed without any major incidents.”
I talked to one of those younger protesters that Salazar mentions.
MC: What brings you out today?
Protester: I spent maybe eight hours yesterday watching live footage from LA on YouTube, changing from different channel to different channel. I just had to do something. There’s a passion.
MC: When Salazar was asked about why he had planned for the first protest in Tampa, he cited Tampa’s role as a regional hub, and the city’s large and diverse immigrant community. It also offers a more visible platform to reach broader media coverage and public attention, Salazar said.
“Our work is very connected to Bradenton as well, and we fully intend to bring the movement there and to other parts of the region.”
He has high expectations for next week’s march.
“Bradenton is my hometown and has a vibrant immigrant community that is ready to speak out. We are preparing carefully and working closely with local partners to ensure it is peaceful and safe. My hope is that it will build on the momentum from Tampa and show that this movement is growing—not just in big cities, but in every community.”
Alongside his work in helping to organize protests, Salazar has created a WhatsApp group that has garnered thousands of members. In this group, members have tipped off others concerning ICE raids and police movements, as well as organizing pro-immigration demonstrations.
At the end of day, Salazar wants to be clear: He does not want violence, and no immigrant he knows wants it either.
“My message is simple. I want immigration reform. I want people who deserve to be here, to stay here. Every immigrant I know contributes to society. All of the criminals I know, were born and raised here.”
Reporting for WSLR News, Mason Chambless.
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