Guest Opinion | Brandon D. Lamar: In the Face of Fear, We Choose Solidarity

This week, our community was shaken to its core. Six of our neighbors — fathers, workers, and community members — were detained by ICE in Pasadena, taken from their homes, their families, and their lives. These actions have caused pain, fear, and uncertainty. But let me be clear: our community will not be crippled by fear. We will not stand idle in the face of injustice. We will stand together united in solidarity and strength.

What happened is more than just a tragedy for the individuals and families involved. It is a threat to the values we hold dear as a city that claims to be inclusive, compassionate, and rooted in justice. The presence of ICE in our neighborhoods not only disrupts families but spreads terror among brown and black immigrant communities, communities that are an essential part of the fabric of Pasadena. These are our neighbors, our classmates, our coworkers, our congregation members. Their pain is our pain.

As President of the Pasadena NAACP, I am calling on every resident, every community leader, and every elected official to speak out and show up. We cannot allow our silence to be mistaken for indifference. When any part of our community is under attack, we all are. Now is the time to recommit to the principles of unity, justice, and collective power.

I am especially encouraged and honored to work alongside the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and the Pasadena Job Center in the ongoing fight for immigration rights. These organizations have been on the frontlines of justice, providing vital support, advocacy, and protection for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Their leadership and courage inspire us all, and we stand proudly in partnership as we continue to uplift the voices and dignity of our immigrant brothers and sisters.

History has taught us that fear is used as a weapon to divide and silence. But our history has also shown that when we come together, Black, Brown, and all people we are unstoppable. We have always been strongest when we stand shoulder to shoulder, protecting one another, speaking truth to power, and demanding a better future for all of us.

This moment demands more than thoughts and prayers. It demands action. We must ensure families have access to legal representation, emotional support, and community resources. We must demand transparency from those in power and fight to make Pasadena a true sanctuary for all people, regardless of their immigration status. And we must show our undocumented brothers and sisters that they are not alone.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. That’s not just a quote, it’s a call to action.

So today, I urge our community not to cower in fear, but to rise in courage. Let this moment be a turning point. Let our unity be louder than our fear, our compassion stronger than our anger, and our commitment to justice more enduring than any act of cruelty.

We are Pasadena. And together, we are powerful.

Brandon D. Lamar is the President of the Pasadena NAACP and a lifelong community advocate for equity, dignity, and justice for all.