East Bay protesters march against ICE operations, Flock camera surveillance

CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- Hundreds of people marched Saturday in the East Bay against ICE and Flock cameras.

In Concord, the march was called "Love Your Neighbor." In Oakland, it was "No Love for ICE. No Love for Flock."

ABC7 Eyewitness News attended both events.

Hundreds of people -- dressed in white, red and pink -- had a message on Valentine's Day in Concord: love your neighbor.

"Our message is simple. Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe," Concord Mayor Laura Nakamura told the crowd.

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She was among those marching in solidarity with immigrant families facing heightened fears over immigration enforcement.

Organizers claim the City of Concord could come under more pressure, since many cases from the San Francisco Immigration Court are being redirected to the Concord Immigration Court. Some residents are concerned that could result in increased ICE presence and detentions in the area.

"We have been watching the national news and seeing what is happening in other cities. And this is a community that is getting prepared to take care of each other," Nakamura said.

United States Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D-10), whose district includes most of Contra Costa County, also took part, saying that he encourages more people to come out and make their voices heard.

"We have to change the laws. Remember, slavery used to be legal. So, immigration right now is being used to divide people based on racism," DeSaulnier said. "We have been through this over and over again in this country."

MORE: Surveillance, privacy concerns raised in debate over Flock cameras in Oakland

Saturday afternoon in Oakland, more than 100 people marched near Lake Merritt over concerns with ICE and surveillance, marching through intersections with cameras.

"Yeah, I don't like being watched," says David Flyn, an Oakland resident.

Protesters condemned the city for renewing its Flock Safety License Plate Reader contract -- even though many Oakland residents support the technology, saying it's another tool for the understaffed Oakland Police Department.

Cody Dadiw says she is concerned that more people in the Bay Area are not speaking out.

"California is so liberal and progressive in a lot of ways. And I think that feels like insulation to a lot of folks and creates a sense of detachment from what's happening across the country," said Dadiw, an Oakland resident.

Oakland organizers are planning more events for March.