Press Conference on City of Refuge Ordinance
2026-07-20 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
COUNCILMEMBER AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR CHARLENE WANG AND COUNCILMEMBER NOEL GALLO ANNOUNCE CRITICAL “CITY OF REFUGE” ORDINANCE UPDATE AMID FEDERAL IMMIGRATION SURGES
Press conference scheduled for Monday, July 20 at Fruitvale Village ahead of the historic final City Council vote on Tuesday, July 21.
OAKLAND, CA — On Monday, July 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Councilmembers Wang and Gallo will be joined by Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, faith leaders, community advocates, and fellow City Council leaders at Fruitvale Village to announce a comprehensive update to Oakland’s historic “City of Refuge” Ordinance. Developed in partnership with Faith in Action East Bay and Councilmembers Noel Gallo and Ken Houston, this timely legislative package strengthens and codifies Oakland’s sanctuary protections, shielding local families from federal surges in immigration enforcement.
The press conference comes just one day before the Oakland City Council convenes for a final, decisive vote on the ordinance, scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 3:30 PM at City Hall.
Recent data highlights rising statewide immigration detention rates, severely impacting Oakland neighborhoods. In areas like Fruitvale and East Oakland, the climate of fear triggered a 57% increase in English-learner school absences during the 2025-2026 school year and a 20-30% drop in local commerce, as residents avoid public spaces out of fear of federal operations.
The updated ordinance safeguards resident data privacy by restricting the collection of immigration status on applications, explicitly prohibits the use of city resources or police personnel to assist in civil immigration enforcement, and bars ICE agents from entering non-public areas of city facilities without a valid judicial warrant.
“Oakland has stood as a beacon of safety and refuge for forty years, but recent federal overreach demands that we fortify our laws,” said Councilmember Wang. “When our neighbors are afraid to send their children to school or shop at local businesses, our entire city suffers. By working hand-in-hand with Faith in Action, and ordinance co-sponsors, Mayor Lee, Councilmember Gallo, and Councilmember Houston, we are putting forward a legal framework that keeps families together and ensures local police focus on local safety—not federal documentation status. We urge the community to stand with us this Tuesday to cross the finish line.”
Press Conference Details
WHAT: Press Conference announcing the updated “City of Refuge” Ordinance
WHO: Mayor Lee, Councilmember Wang, Councilmember Noel Gallo, Councilmember Ken Houston, Faith in Action East Bay, community leaders, and impacted families.
WHEN: Monday, July 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM
WHERE: Fruitvale Village (Outdoor Plaza at Fountain), 3301 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601

Press Conference with Assemblymember Liz Ortega
2026-07-22 11:00 - 12:00
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Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-07-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-23 18:00 - 20:00
Location: At Thy Word, 8915 International Blvd., Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Bulky Block Party (Oakland)
2026-07-25 09:00 - 13:00

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-07-31 18:00 - 20:00
Location: New Hope MBC, 892 36th Street, Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Webinarios de ACILEP para la Comunidad
2026-08-12 17:30 - 18:30, 2026-09-09 17:30 - 18:30
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Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-08-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-11 18:00 - 20:00
Location: St. Columba, 6401 San Pablo Ave., Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Regional Assembly
2026-08-17 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-08-31 18:00 - 19:30

Immigration ACILEP Enforcement Updates Series
2026-08-19 17:30 - 18:30, 2026-09-16 17:30 - 18:30

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-08-21 18:00 - 20:00
Location: St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 1500 34th Ave, Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Clean & Safe Streets Community Update (Oakland)
2026-08-31 17:30 - 19:00

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-09-11 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-11-13 18:00 - 20:00
Location: First Mt. Sinai, 1970 86th Ave., Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-09-18 18:00 - 20:00
Location: Williams Chapel BC, 1410 10th Ave., Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-10-16 18:00 - 20:00
Location: St. Benedict’s Church, 2245 82nd Ave., Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-10-30 18:00 - 20:00
Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 4025 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org

Ceasefire Night Walk
2026-11-20 18:00 - 20:00
Location: Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 10115 Edes Ave., Oakland, CA

Night walks:
6pm: Gathering for pre-walk/corners process
6:30pm: walk or stand on corners
7:30pm: returned back to starting location or completed from the corners
By 7:45pm, walk process completed
For more information, please contact alba@fiaeastbay.org
