Immigration, Lights for Liberty

Lights For Liberty Vigils Planned In Solano County and Bay Area

The vigils are targeting reports of inhumane conditions at migrant detention camps, mass deportation and deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border.

By Maggie Avants, Patch Staff
 | 
Lights for Liberty vigils are planned Friday across the Bay Area and United States
Lights for Liberty vigils are planned Friday across the Bay Area and United States (Shutterstock)
SOLANO COUNTY, CA — Residents of Benicia, Vacaville and many other Bay Area cities are planning to take part in Lights for Liberty vigils Friday, July 12 as part of worldwide protests against detention camps at the U.S.-Mexico border. The vigils are targeting reports of inhumane conditions in the camps, mass deportation and deaths at the border.
According to a release from Santa Cruz Indivisible, as of Wednesday there were over 689 registered Lights for Liberty events on Friday planned around the world. Most events are asking participants to bring a flashlight, an electric candle or a phone.
In Benicia, residents are meeting from 7 -9 p.m. at the Gazebo in the Park at 1st Street.
The Vacaville vigil begins at at 8 p.m. at 1 Town Square.

In Napa, community members are asked to meet at 8 p.m. at Soscol Avenue and 1st Street in the Oxbow Commons area.

Petaluma residents are gathering from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive.

A Santa Rosa vigil is planned at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse Square.

In Davis, a vigil is planned from from 7 -9 p.m. at Central Park, 401 C St.

The Concord gathering will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. at Todos Santos Plaza, 2151 Salvio St.

Oakland will see at least two separate vigils: one at City Hall and another at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater. The City Hall vigil has over 40 sponsors and will begin at 5 p.m. The Lake Merritt vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m.

San Franciscans will also get multiple chances to participate in a Lights for Liberty vigil. Interfaith leaders will host an 11:30 a.m. event outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices at 630 Sansome St.

Another San Francisco vigil will be held at 7 p.m. at the Powell Street Cable Car Turnaround.

San Jose’s Lights for Liberty event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at City Hall Plaza, 200 East Santa Clara St.

A Santa Cruz vigil is planned at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

According to the Lights for Liberty website, vigils will also be held in Monterey, Novato, Pacifica, Palo Alto and Redwood City.

For a full list of registered events and information pertaining to each gathering, go to Lightsforliberty.org/localevents.

— Bay City News Service; Patch local editor Maggie Avants contributed to this report.

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