American flags waved and upbeat music played in front of San Francisco City Hall as thousands of people rallied to speak out against the separation of children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.
A stream of people slowed down traffic as they marched from Dolores Park to the City Hall to be a part of a nationwide call for change in the immigration policy.
The crowd sang "No more deportations" to the tune of "We Will Rock You" with Oakland hip-hop artist and activist Gina Madrid.
"We have to keep in mind and understand that we are all immigrants in this country unless you're Native American. We're standing on stolen land," Madrid said to the crowd.
Organizers of the Families Belong Together March & Rally San Francisco says "It's time we take the streets to call for an end to the human rights abuses of ICE and the Trump Administration as they cruelly separate children from their families."
Event organizers include Families Belong Together San Francisco, Women's March San Francisco and Indivisible SF.
“Si se puede! Yes we can!:” Thousands of people are gathered outside San Jose City Hall for the Families Belong Together rally to protest the separation of immigrant families. #FamilesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/IKrb4dMh9y
— Jennifer Gonzalez (@JennieGonzMedia) June 30, 2018
A look up and down Market Street in San Francisco, demonstrators marching toward city hall for Families Belong Together Rally. Can’t see the end of the crowd. pic.twitter.com/fegyHPOmxO
— Christie Smith (@christies_nbc) June 30, 2018
Large crowd on the move marching from Dolores Park toward City Hall in San Francisco for a #FamiliesBelongTogether rally. pic.twitter.com/sjEmr5TK1M
— Christie Smith (@christies_nbc) June 30, 2018
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined the rally and shared a photo of herself and her family holding the "Families Belong Together" sign.
"From my family to yours – love and support to everyone standing up, speaking out and marching for justice today. We will and we MUST force an end to Trump’s cruel 'zero humanity' policy," Pelosi tweeted.
Sen. Scott Wiener also attended the San Francisco march. "Out of despair blossoms hope. Not everyone will make it through this nightmare, but our communities will make it through, damaged yet strong. We are tougher than they are," Wiener tweeted ahead of the march.
More than 20 rallies are taking place across the Bay Area but some of the biggest ones will take place in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who has been under fire by President Trump for the city and the state's so-called sanctuary city policy, attended a family-friendly march in Oakland.
"This kid-driven event shows that children are also outraged by what's happening to families @ the border; they stand in solidarity and want our gov to act ❤," Schaaf tweeted.
In San Jose, thousands gathered in front of City Hall in downtown and shouted "Si se puede! Yes we can!"
Michelle Ngyuen, 19, says it's imporant to speak up because "people who are voiceless can't always defend themselves."
Another demonstrator in San Jose Adrianna McCain, 23, said she attended the march because she says can't let herself be a bystander. "Not when they've got children in cages," McCain said.
Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to show his support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid calls from some Democrats for major changes to immigration enforcement.
Tweeting from New Jersey, Trump said that Democrats "are making a strong push to abolish ICE, one of the smartest, toughest and most spirited law enforcement groups of men and women that I have ever seen." He urged ICE agents to "not worry or lose your spirit."
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
