Jun 6 2026

Standing Hand in Hand: Why We Are Joining the Human Chain for Dignity in Pasadena and Altadena

Standing Hand in Hand: Why We Are Joining the Human Chain for Dignity in Pasadena and Altadena

In the wake of disaster, a community’s true character is revealed not by the destruction it faces, but by how its people choose to rebuild. Recently, our local neighborhoods in Altadena and Pasadena faced devastating wildfires. In the aftermath, it was day laborers, migrant workers, and immigrant families who stepped up—shoveling ash, clearing debris, and helping our communities rise from the literal ashes.  

Yet, instead of receiving the dignity and gratitude they deserved, these vital community members have faced fear, division, and targeted immigration raids.   

But division won’t win here. On Saturday, June 13, neighbors, families, workers, and advocates are coming together to say “no” to hate and “yes” to solidarity. We are forming a massive, one-mile Human Chain for Dignity stretching across the sidewalks from Lincoln Avenue to Lake Avenue.  

Here is why this event matters and why you should stand with us.

Rebuilding with Love, Resisting with Peace

When crisis struck, workers didn’t ask about status; they simply lent their hands to help. The recent raids aimed to fracture our community, spreading fear and separating families. The Human Chain is our collective response: a visual, peaceful statement that we refuse to be divided.  

Organized by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), this demonstration is a provocative act rooted entirely in love and nonviolence. By locking hands along a mile-long stretch of our shared streets, we are quite literally holding our community together. We are showing that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.   

Beyond the Wildfires: Honoring Our Essential Workers

For too long, day laborers have been treated as invisible, despite performing the backbreaking essential work that keeps our cities running. Whether it is post-disaster cleanups, construction, landscaping, or domestic work, their contributions are woven into the very fabric of Southern California.

This event is our opportunity to honor them publicly. It is a space to condemn unlawful federal overreach and defense-less raids, while lifting up the courage of those who choose to stay, work, and live openly despite the risks. We stand together to demand respect, fair treatment, and an end to the criminalization of workers.  

Event Details: How to Join

Whether you are a lifelong Pasadena resident, an Altadena neighbor, or an ally from across Los Angeles, your presence is needed.

  • What: Pasadena/Altadena Stand Together: Human Chain for Dignity  

  • When: Saturday, June 13  

  • Where: Spanning approximately 1 mile from Lincoln Avenue to Lake Avenue along the sidewalks.  

  • Who: Neighbors, friends, workers, faith leaders, and families. Everyone committed to dignity and human rights is welcome.  

Lock Hands, Raise Your Voice

You don’t need anything special to participate—just an open heart and a willingness to stand side-by-side with your neighbors. Bring your family, invite your friends, and make signs celebrating unity, love, and community defense.

We tried to be divided, but we failed because we chose to hold each other closer. Let’s make that bond undeniable on June 13. RSVP today through the Mobilize Event Page to receive specific staging locations and updates. Together, we are an unbreakable chain.  

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