Manni Guillen, whose family moved to Juneau from Mexico when he was a baby, speaks at the Love Knows No Borders rally in Juneau on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Guillen spoke about his experiences growing up in Juneau and working with the Border Angels nonprofit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Manni Guillen, whose family moved to Juneau from Mexico when he was a baby, speaks at the Love Knows No Borders rally in Juneau on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Guillen spoke about his experiences growing up in Juneau and working with the Border Angels nonprofit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Thanks to those who attended Saturday’s rally

Over 200 people gathered to support migrant rights.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, community organizers in partnership with the Juneau People for Peace and Justice held the Love Knows No Borders rally. Over 200 of our neighbors gathered to support migrant rights. The organizers extend grateful thanks to rally speakers Ernestine Hayes, Deacon Charles Rohrbacher, Gloria Orozco, Libby Bakalar, Joyce Levine, Christianne Carillo and Manuel Guillen for sharing their powerful words and stories. We also thank those who attended for their support, petition signing, letter writing and generous donations that amounted to over $1000 being donated to Border Angels.

Thank you to the Juneau Empire for your coverage of the event, before and after, and for livestreaming the rally.

We came together as a community in compassion, empathy and the acknowledgement that when people are vulnerable anywhere in the world, we are all vulnerable.

Thank you.

Patricia Turner Custard,

Juneau

• My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.

Previous
Opinion: Marijuana Board should not allow onsite marijuana consumption
Next
Opinion: The gift of kindness

More in Opinion

Web
Have something to say?

Here’s how to add your voice to the conversation.

Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon The entrance to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp.’s Anchorage office is seen on Aug. 11, 2023. The state-owned AGDC is pushing for a massive project that would ship natural gas south from the North Slope, liquefy it and send it on tankers from Cook Inlet to Asian markets. The AGDC proposal is among many that have been raised since the 1970s to try commercialize the North Slope’s stranded natural gas.
My Turn: Alaskans must proceed with caution on gasline legislation

Alaskans have watched a parade of natural gas pipeline proposals come and… Continue reading

Win Gruening (courtesy)
OPINION: Juneau Assembly members shift priorities in wish list to Legislature

OPINION: Juneau Assembly members shift priorities in wish list to Legislature

Letter to the editor typewriter (web only)
LETTER: Juneau families care deeply about how schools are staffed

Juneau families care deeply about how our schools are staffed, supported, and… Continue reading

Kenny Holston/The New York Times President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departed the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews, bound for a trip to Britain, Sept. 16, 2025. In his inauguration speech, he vowed to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.
OPINION: Ratings, Not Reasons

The Television Logic of Trump’s Foreign Policy.

Win Gruening (courtesy)
OPINION: Transparency and accountability are foundational to good government

The threat to the entire Juneau community due to annual flooding from… Continue reading

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2025. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
Opinion: Invasion of Venezuela – Not unforeseen

Is Colombia and Cuba Next?

A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as arguments are heard about the Affordable Care Act, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
My Turn: The U.S. is under health care duress

When millions become uninsured, it will strain the entire health care system.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
My Turn: Welcoming the Coast Guard for a brighter future

Our community is on the verge of transformation with the commissioning of the icebreaker Storis.d

Faith Myers stands at the doors of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy Faith Myers, file)
Alaska’s system of protecting Trust beneficiaries is 40 years behind best practice

The lower 48 has a 3-century headstart on protecting people in locked psychiatric facilities.

Photo by Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal Text messages between Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President Donald Trump.
Commentary: Alaska’s governor said he texts Trump. I asked for copies.

A couple of months ago, I was reporting on the typhoon that… Continue reading

veggies File Photo Community organizations that serve food at their gatherings can do a lot by making menus of whole, nutritious offerings according to health and wellness coach Burl Sheldon.
Food served by “groups for good” can be health changemakers

Health and wellness coach thinks change can start on community event menus