The Fall 2025 semester began in much the same way the Spring semester ended: with on-campus protests against the rising tide of fascism in America.
Summer 2025 saw plenty of activism held at Delta and all over Stockton to fight against the current political climate and stand up for our community. Delta students and Stocktonians alike organized against actions taken by President Donald Trump’s regime that directly impact our neighbors.
An anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rally was held at Victory Park on June 11 due to ICE’s arrival in California earlier that week.
On June 14 a nationwide “No Kings” protest was held at Delta’s campus in opposition to an unprecedented military parade held for both Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, with costs ranging from $25 to $45 million according to U.S. Army spokesperson Heather J. Hagan. This was the largest protest since the start of Trump’s second term.
On July 17 a “Good Trouble Lives On” rally was held in honor of the late Civil Rights activist and U.S. Representative John Lewis on the five year anniversary of his passing. “Good Trouble” is in reference to a quote by Lewis — “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.”
Lewis’ words continue to inspire activists to fight for positive change in America today.
“I participated in these rallies because I believe silence allows injustice to continue. Being there reminded me that my voice joined with others can create this pressure for change. And personally, it meant standing up, not just for me, but for my community and for future generations behind me,” said senator of Legislative Affairs for Associated Students of Delta College Danielle Bush, a second year student at Delta who is also the vice president of the Politics and Law Club.
Bush helped organize a youth-led anti-gun violence rally this summer with Voice of the Youth, a training and mentorship program that provides support and resources for underserved youth.
There’s more to political engagement than attending protests, organizing your community members is just as important.
Maro Bello, second year Delta student and President of Unifying the Education of Marginalized Communities, UEMC, the social activism club at Delta College, worked with the Stockton chapter of Food not Bombs, a national organization that distributes food and resources to marginalized communities.
Bello went to McKinley park and Martin Luther King Jr. park to pass out meals, health products and literature, and perform with his music based social welfare organization, The Bad Planet, to bring music and culture into community and social movements.
“There’s a lot of staying power when you bring in music, especially when it’s a part of social movements… I’ve realized that music is like gel that brings it all together, it makes people feel joy when they’re trying to express rebellion. And joy is rebellion, especially in the face of tyranny,” said Bello.
I spent the summer organizing with Western Farm Workers Association, a voluntary, private, unincorporated membership association with the goal of organizing all low income workers, not just farm workers.
I volunteered about four times a week canvassing door-to-door in low income neighborhoods in Stockton to sign up members and offer immediate assistance, taking classes to learn about the history of organizing and labor movements and going to migrant farm labor centers, which is housing for migrant workers who come during harvest season run by the state of California Office of Migrant Services, to get reports on working and living conditions.
With the summer coming to a close, there is still the necessity to stay politically active and do the work to stand up for our community. This is a lifelong struggle we must constantly fight for. We cannot sit idly by and just watch as we lose our Constitutional rights and this country falls to fascism.
