A tense standoff unfolded at San Diego City Hall on Friday as six individuals barricaded themselves within Mayor Todd Gloria’s office, escalating a protest into a direct confrontation with city government.
The group stormed the mayor’s lobby early in the morning, immediately disrupting the normal flow of business and demanding an end to any cooperation between San Diego police and federal immigration authorities, specifically targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
For hours, they occupied the space, transforming it into what they declared “The People’s Office,” and relentlessly sought a meeting with Mayor Gloria, their demands growing increasingly urgent as the day progressed.
When a meeting failed to materialize, the situation intensified. Protesters began chanting and demonstrating, then physically barricaded the doors leading to the mayor’s office and the building entrance, effectively trapping staff inside.
Video footage captured a protester, identifiable by vibrant blue hair, forcefully voicing demands through a glass partition, her words directed at the mayor’s staff who were unable to directly engage.
Mayor Gloria, who has publicly positioned San Diego as a sanctuary city, swiftly condemned the actions as moving beyond the boundaries of peaceful protest, labeling the behavior “unacceptable.”
He revealed that his staff had already engaged with the group the previous week to address their concerns regarding ICE activity and police involvement, emphasizing that existing city policy already aligned with their requests – the San Diego Police Department does not participate in federal immigration enforcement.
Despite acknowledging a degree of sympathy for the protesters’ underlying views, Mayor Gloria firmly stated he would not be intimidated or coerced by such tactics, prioritizing the safety of city employees and the public.
The barricade remained in place for hours, creating a significant disruption and raising concerns about public safety, until police eventually removed the protesters Friday evening.
The fate of those involved remains uncertain, with no immediate word on whether any charges will be filed following the dramatic and disruptive occupation of City Hall.
