After most runners crossed the finish line, the crowd heard from SEIU Local 721 President Crystal Irving and Calif. assembly member Sade Elhawary, who stood atop a box truck flanked with “Summer of Resistance” and “Run Against ICE” banners.
“We’re standing together, running through these historic neighborhoods, to unite behind one message, and that is simply we are standing for and with our immigrant communities,” Irving said. “…This issue is all of our issues, and we know very deeply that an injury to one is an injury to all, and an injustice to one is an injustice for all.”
Aside from standing together as community members, Irving reminded the crowd to stand together as voters who must make a commitment to “[voting] out these politicians who insist on terrorizing us and destroying our families and our communities.”
Irving then handed the microphone off to Elhawary, who commended the runners for their participation.
“I’ve been hurt to see our people being treated the way they’ve been treated,” Elhawary said. “But we’re not going to sit here and just be sad. We’re going to turn that pain into power, just like you all did today! We’re going to turn that anxiety into action. … We’re going to make sure that we do everything we can until they [ICE agents] get the f— out of our community!”
Elhawary and Irving concluded their remarks with more “ICE out of LA!” chants.