America was founded by those brave enough to stand up to the wrongs committed by their government — the founding fathers established ten inalienable rights based upon those beliefs. The first of those Amendments establishes “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Friday Jan. 30, 2026 — a nationwide strike was organized to protest the Trump administration and the killings by the Department of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The community of Livermore joined the demonstration.
In the heart of downtown Livermore, on the intersection of First Street and Livermore Avenue — hundreds showed up. People of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.
Jane Morrison, a member of the Livermore Advocates for Public Education, said,“It gives me hope. It gives me hope for the future. These people are really engaged and enthusiastic. They know the issue, they can see it, and they’ve got a depth of knowledge that’s really impressive.”
Volunteers and members of the community self-policed the protest. Each corner had a crossing guard, keeping the crowd out of the streets and ensuring safety when crossing.
The crowd spread across all four corners of the intersection — signs held overhead — one reading, “HONK IF YOU ‘❤’ HAVING RIGHTS.” Cheers from those gathered and honks from cars driving through rang on for blocks. A commercial trunk blared its horn and was met with an equally thunderous uproar from the crowd.
Adding to the noise, Livermore resident Stefan Gilbert-O’Neill played the drums he brought, saying, “Many cultures have rhythms, and I enjoy playing all of them to celebrate all of our cultures coming here together.”
For three hours the crowd never fell silent. Livermore made its voice heard.
Ian Kapsalis is the Photo Editor and Production Manager for The Express. Follow him on Instagram @ian_kappy.
Jan. 30, 2026 — Downtown Livermore, Calif. a truck drives down First Street — hanging out the window, a woman holds a sign “HOT PEOPLE MELT ICE.” Cheers erupted from the crowd — met in response by honks from passing vehicles — all expressing their First Amendment Right. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” -Sir Issac Newton: It remains important that the American people exercise their rights — without, the efforts of America’s forefathers would be in vain. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
A boy stands tall upon the street light’s crosswalk signal — holding a sign reading “ICE OUT.” Turning to the crowd he hoists the sign in a call for applause. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
THE SECOND YOUTH MOVEMENT: On the north corner of First Street and S. Livermore Avenue — a young girl holds a handmade sign reading “NO on ICe!” With some of the highest rates of youth activism since 2020 — America is in the midst of another wave of social justice. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
A DEMOCRACY FLIPPED: A woman stands above the crowd and waves an upside down American flag. As corporations push towards AI — the environmental impact of Elon Musk and his companies Tesla and X grow increasingly more severe — A sign hovers over a passing Tesla — “THE WRONG ICE IS MELTING.” (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Climbing on top of the pergola a protestor waves a Mexican flag as the crowd roared with applause. Those gathered varied in background — but came together in one common goal — to protest I.C.E. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
A woman sticks out of the sunroof — Mexican and Honduran flags fly through the wind as a purple Dodge Charger rips down First Street in Livermore, Calif. A sign in the crowd reads “LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL.” (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
A sign reads “ICE IS THE NEW GESTAPO.” (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
ROLLING IN STYLE: Student of Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District went from corner to corner through protest with his boombox. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Three men sit at the back of the crowds — one sign reads “Pretti & Good were who Make America Great. But Don… You are neither Pretti nor Good.” (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
The pop-punk band Green Day has been outspoken with their criticisms of the Trump Administration. One protester holds a sign with a grenade and partial lyrics from the album Green Day “American Idiot” — the sign reading “DON’T WANNA BE AN AMERICAN IDIOT I’M NOT PART OF A MAG AGENDA.” (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Students from Livermore’s schools flooded the protest — one student’s sign reads “FUND SCHOOLS NOT ICE.” California Senate Bill (SB) 955 allows students one excused absence per school year — if in service of participating in civic engagement. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
