On May 1, protesters rallied at the front entrance at Delta College on Pacific Avenue.
Aligning with the Delta May Day Rally, another May Day protest took place in downtown Stockton at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, which drew approximately 250 protesters
May Day protesters go down the Yokuts Ave. crosswalk towards Delta College on Pacific Ave. Photo by Levi Goerzen
Youth organization Nopal and the Associated Students of Delta College (ASDC) hosted the campus May Day rally calling for community organizations and the Stockton community to advocate for racial and social injustice, LBGTQ+ rights, economic dignity and community support.
“Nopal is a cultural and political education project for Chicanx and Latinx youth in Stockton, CA. They provide space and programming to the community, foster solidarity and organize,” said Nopal rally coordinator, Mirella Guzman.
Approximately 100 protesters showed up in solidarity.
Nine organizations tabled at the event: Little Manilla Rising, Western Farm Workers Association, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities (EMAC), Restore the Delta, Stockton Stands, Central Valley Brown Berets, Franklin High School Brown Issues and Central Valley BIPOCC.
ASDC and Nopal had a communal table where posters, arts and crafts and water for attendees were provided.
“Having organizational allies present is especially important because this movement is rooted in collaboration and community power,” said Guzman.
Protesters brought signs, posters, some brought bullhorns and bells, shouting “No Kings! Fight for our democracy!” As the protesters lined up on Pacific Avenue, commuters honked in solidarity. Some drivers showed opposition, shouting “Trump 2025!”
“We do not live single issue lives or single issue causes. Attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us. Stockton is loud, Stockton is organizing, Stockton is fighting back,” said Nopal co-Director and founder and former Delta Student Services Director, Ricky Gutierrez-Maldonado, opening the rally for organization leaders and activists.
Long-time Stockton resident, Patti Kennedy, said she tries to attend most protests to show support for underprivileged communities.
“I have the privilege of being a white person and not need to look for a job ever again,” said Kennedy. “And if I don’t use that privilege to try and save our Constitutional democracy it will be lost for all of us.”
Pedestrians came and went, some stayed to support. The protest was scheduled at 4 p.m., but early protestors came around 3 o’clock. The rally ended around 6 p.m.
