Democratic organizations in the US, including Anakbayan, Bayan, Migrante, GABRIELA, ICHRP, Malaya, Tanggol Migrante, and allied organizations, launched a national day of protest on May 23 in various parts of the US. Their call: Unite and come together, collectively fight for rights, welfare, and freedom. They held picket protests outside the Philippine Consulate offices in Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, and San Francisco, California, outside the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, and outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.

The groups demand the consulate and embassy of the Philippines to provide services for Filipinos held in detention centers, support the immediate release of all detained Filipinos, and oppose the Trump regime’s inhumane persecution of migrant workers in the US. They also demanded genuine accountability from the Philippine embassy. Their call the Philippine ambassador to the US, Jose Romualdez, to fulfill his duty or step down from his position.

Tanggol Migrante held a program outside the Tacoma NW Detention Center, where Maximo Londorio, Rodante “Dante” Rivera, and Lewellyn Dixon are detained. The activity included the families of Londorio and Rivera, allied organizations such as Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America, IAM Union (Londorio’s union), the group La Resistencia, SEIU 925 (Dixon’s union), Washington State Labor Council, International Migrants Alliance, and United Methodist Church. The Teamster117 union also expressed support for the struggle of Filipino migrants.

“The first time I spoke at a press conference, I felt crushed, I did not know what to do. The support of his union and Tanggol Migrante gave me the strength to help others as well. I want my husband to come home, our children need him, and I will fight for this to happen,” Londorio’s wife Crystal said during the program.

On the same day as the protest, Tanggol Migrante proposed a dialogue with the Philippine Embassy in the US to discuss the Filipino migrants’ grievances.

Tanggol Migrante refuted the Philippine Embassy’s allegation that holding a protest alongside the scheduled meeting shows insincerity about engaging in dialogue with embassy officials.

“The demands of Tanggol Migrante have always been clear, and we are sincere in our efforts to ensure that the Philippine government is held accountable and fulfills its duty. Instead of fulfilling your responsibility, you chose to defend yourselves and avoid the issue. While you protect your egos, Aunt Lyn, Max, Ligaya, and others remain at risk.”

“Protesting is our democratic right. We speak out because your silence says a lot. The embassy’s response shows that our protests and organizing are working, and your inaction brought us here. While the Philippine government continues to neglect and abandon Filipino migrants who need help, the Tanggol Migrante Network, together with Filipino organizations in communities across the country, will continue to protest,” Tanggol Migrante said in response to the statement from the Philippine Embassy.