Thousands set to protest in Bay Area over family separations

With a scorching hot forecast throughout the region, thousands of protesters will take to the streets today across the Bay Area in a mass mobilization against the separation of more than 2,000 migrant children taken from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border under President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy.

More than 700 rallies are planned in cities across the country, including about 20 in the Bay Area, from San Francisco to San Jose, San Leandro, Alameda, Oakland, Concord and Morgan Hill. Rallies are also planned in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico. About 50,000 attendees are expected in Washington, D.C., alone, where protesters will rally in front of the White House and march on the Department of Justice.

Counterprotests are expected in downtown Los Angeles and the Northern California city of Grass Valley, though it’s unclear if any are scheduled in the Bay Area.

Temperatures are expected to soar into the triple digits in some Bay Area cities today, in what’s expected to be one of the hottest weekends of the year. BART, Caltrain and VTA will run their normal weekend schedules.

The vast majority of the families separated at the border fled violence and turmoil in Central America and are asking for asylum in the U.S. Trump has since signed an executive order halting the separation of these families and a federal judge this week ordered immigration officials to reunite all of the children with their parents in 30 days or less.

But many protesters said they won’t back down until all of the families are back together again.

Here’s a roundup of some of the key Bay Area rallies:

San Francisco: Protesters will start at Mission Dolores Park at 10 a.m. and will march to the Civic Center, 355 McAllister St., where they will rally at 11 a.m.

San Mateo: 3 p.m. march at 300 S. El Camino Real.

Palo Alto: Noon Saturday at El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road.

San Jose: 11 a.m. rally at City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St.

Oakland: 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Merritt Labyrinth, 500 Bellevue Ave.

Concord: 10 a.m. Saturday at Todos Santos Plaza, 2175 Willow Pass Road. An unaffiliated, smaller immigration rally will follow at 1:30 p.m. near the former Concord Naval Weapons Station at Willow Pass and East Olivera roads.

For a full list of Bay Area cities participating Saturday, check the event website: act.moveon.org/ event/families-belong-together/search.