In response to the Trump administration’s ongoing federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, Ventura County and beyond, the local community group Centro del Pueblo will host a “People’s Assembly” on the Arcata Plaza from 7:15 to 8 p.m. tonight.

The goal of the event is to provide information while offering people a space to gather and talk about the raids being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Peyton Leone, a spokesperson for Centro del Pueblo.

“There is a lot of affected community here — students with family in L.A. or [residents] who have connections to L.A.,” Leone said. 

Organizers will also inform people about their constitutional rights and the preparations they should make in case ICE comes to Humboldt County.

“We’re preparing for this the same way we prepare for a natural disaster,” Leone said. “This is a human disaster. This is something we’re preparing for by making sure everyone has their documents, like birth certificates; anything they would need in an emergency should be prepared, like [in] a backpack, and be ready to be carried. That goes for everybody. We see that there’s not just people that are undocumented being arrested … . People with legal status in the United States are being arrested and detained as well.”

Arcata Mayor Alex Stillman and Councilmember Meredith Matthews said they also plan to attend the event. Stillman will address attendees and reaffirm Arcata’s position as a sanctuary city, a status codified in the municipal code eight years ago. 

“It’s important that individuals in the community feel they’re safe no matter who they are, and that police understand that they’re part of the community,” Stillman said. She added that Arcata Police Lt. Chris Ortega will also be in attendance.

Another APD officer was deployed to Los Angeles because he’s enrolled in the National Guard, according to Stillman.

“All I can think is that he’s sleeping on the floor somewhere with no food or water,” the mayor said, referring to reports that troops were deployed to the city without proper supplies or a place to sleep. “The plan was not well executed.”

Earlier today, Senator Alex Padilla was “forced to the floor, handcuffed and removed by federal agents” at a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to the New York Times and other news reports.

More information on tonight’s gathering can be found in the Instagram post below: