Galeria de la Raza filled up with about 30 people on Monday evening, all of them there to write letters of support to Hilary Rivers, the San Francisco drag performer who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Thursday after an immigration court appearance.
For about two hours, Galeria de la Raza offered pen, paper and its space to anyone interested in sending a message of love and support to Rivers, who is currently being detained about 270 miles from San Francisco, at the Golden State Annex, an ICE detention center in McFarland just north of Bakersfield.
“Letters of solidarity to people in detention can offer crucial emotional support, hope, and a sense of connection to the outside world,” said Sarah Jimenez, one of the event’s organizers.
Rivers’ arrest came hours after she finished as a runner up at the Mr. and Mrs. Safe Latino on Wednesday night. The event, which is organized by Galeria de la Raza, has for the last 30 years promoted the wellness of the Latinx LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco.
Rivers is just the latest person to be arrested immediately following a court appearance. In San Francisco and nationally, ICE agents are targeting those who voluntarily come into court or check-ins with ICE agents, arresting them immediately afterwards.
At times, federal attorneys are relying on a novel tactic of seeking to dismiss asylum cases so that asylum-seekers are put in legal limbo and can be arrested. In at least one case documented by Mission Local, an asylum-seeker was arrested, transferred to the same detention center where Rivers is being held, and put in front of a more conservative judge, hurting his chances at asylum.
The evening started with Jimenez and Ani Rivera, executive director of Galeria de la Raza, providing a few instructions to attendees.
“Try not to forget that people in ICE detention are just that, people,” Jimenez said. “Try to avoid any overwrought language that could inadvertently lead to increased feelings of stress or anxiety. Keep in mind that what you write may be read by ICE and or detention facility staff.”
The letters were to be written in Rivers’ preferred language, Spanish. And for those who don’t speak the language, don’t worry, Jimenez said: “Just write in English or use Google Translate. Let the words come from your heart.”
Rivera, who spoke with Rivers and River’s mom in Guatemala on Sunday, said that Rivers had a message: She was following the law when she was arrested. And she is worried for her mother.
“She told me, ‘I would be lying if I told you I’m OK. I’m making it day by day,’” said Rivera. “She was really worried about her family. She wanted her family to know that she’s fine and that she has support.”
Rivers had been told not to attend the hearing by those concerned she might be arrested, Rivera said, but decided to keep her appointment to continue the legal process.
Felipe Flores, a contestant who won the “Mr.” category at the Safe Latino contest, described Rivers as having a big, high energy personality that was impossible to ignore.
“Even when we were doing dress rehearsal and everything, whenever her music would come on it would just change the entire vibe of the space,” said Flores. “It shifted the entire vibe of the room into this kind of high energy dance that you couldn’t escape wanting to get up yourself.”
Flores was one of the first people to be notified of Rivers’ arrest. He was devastated.
“Just to imagine her being detained at that moment hurt so much,” Flores said. “I was lucky enough to win … but then it felt like I couldn’t really fully enjoy myself because I just kept thinking about what was going on for her.”
Amongst those present on Monday evening was District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who said writing letters for someone in the community can feel small. But it’s critical for those in detention.
“We’re with you. She’s brought us together in this really difficult moment, people of all walks of life — queer, straight, Latinx, white,” Fielder said. “It’s really beautiful that someone can be so impactful even far away.”
Xochilt, another drag performer, said Rivers’ arrest had brought together San Francisco’s drag community — in solidarity and fear.
“I came because I’m a member of the drag queen community, a member of the undocumented community. I’m a DACA recipient, and so seeing her story just epitomizes a lot of the fear that’s in the community right now,” said Xochilt. “We need a rally when someone of our own community is taken in such a brute way.”
More details about the case are expected to be announced by Rivers’ attorneys in the next few days.
