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Immigrant rights advocates are organizing a peaceful protest at Railroad Park on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m., calling on state and local officials to protect immigrant communities from policies they say are rooted in fear and discrimination. The event, held at 1600 First Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233, follows recent demonstrations in Huntsville, Albertville, and other Alabama cities.
Organizers, including youth leaders from Birmingham, say the protest aims to counter the growing hostility toward immigrants, particularly Haitian refugees, as deportations rise and anti-immigrant legislation gains traction in Alabama’s legislature. Among the bills being proposed in the current session are SB53, SB55, SB63, SB77, HB7, and HB3, all of which advocates argue would negatively impact immigrant families across the state.
The protest also comes amid recent federal policy changes that include the reopening of Guantanamo Bay for immigrant detention, the reactivation of the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, and Executive Orders restricting refugee protections and Temporary Protected Status programs. Activists say these moves represent a broader attack on immigrant communities, carried out in ways that circumvent traditional legislative debate.
“Now more than ever, we need to unify our voices and utilize the privilege we have to do so to change the narrative around immigrants in the United States,” said Jasmin Hernandez-Alamillo, one of the protest organizers. “This community deserves to be respected and validated as humans who are simply seeking to build a better life full of opportunities for themselves and their families.”
Organizers encourage the public to stand in solidarity and advocate for policies that uphold the dignity and rights of immigrants.
