Saturday, October 3, 2026
Hundreds of people took to the streets of downtown Olympia in a show of support for immigrants and their rights on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The peaceful display of solidarity took place days after a military veteran with long ties to the community was taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The detainment of Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry last week weighed on the “Walk for Immigrant Justice,” with some people displaying signs emblazoned with the words “Free Zahid,” as they walked from Temple Beth Hatfiloh at 8th Avenue and Washington Street SE to Percival Landing Park at Olympia Avenue and Columbia Street NW in the early evening.
“Three days ago a member of our Thurston County community, Zahid Chaudhry, went to his scheduled court hearing. He is a U.S. Army disabled veteran who’s lived here for nearly 25 years and has advocated for social justice in many many ways,” said Kathy Baros Friedt, of the Hispanic Roundtable of South Sound, in opening remarks delivered at Percival Landing Park.
“Many of you know him. While being compliant with his hearing date, he was abducted and taken immediately to the detention center. No notice to his wife and two children and supporters that were waiting for him.”
She was referencing the detainment of Chaudhry during a citizenship interview in Tukwila on Thursday, Aug. 21. His detainment was widely reported in the media.
Chaudhry, a former member of The JOLT News Board of Directors who emigrated from Pakistan more than 20 years ago, is married to Melissa Chaudhry.
She ran for the 9th Congressional District seat in 2024 and has an active campaign website, which points toward another run for the seat in 2026. Melissa Chaudhry could not be reached for comment.
The event featured a number of speakers, including 2025 Evan Ferber Peacemaker Leadership Award recipient Lonnie Locke, Olympia Unitarian Universal Church Reverend Carol McKinley and Saint John | San Juan Episcopal Church Reverend Janet Waggoner.
Locke touched on her journey from the deep south to the Pacific Northwest.
“I’m overwhelmed by the beauty that I see. … I left Alabama and the southeast to escape oppression and hardship. I found some relief in Washington and became the first in my family to vote. … Years later, I discovered a faith that stated all humanity was one human family and that a herd of one is the herd of all. … My history and its imprint looms,” she said.
McKinley encouraged people to show up, stand up and speak up for immigrants.
“We are seeing those who have been in this country for many years seized on the streets outside the courts, taken from their work places and homes by masked (figures) dressed in black, then taken to for-profit prisons. … As a person of faith, I must speak out against cruel, unjust acts that deny the rights, the humanity of our immigrant brothers and sisters,” McKinley said.
“As we and our immigrant neighbors face darker days ahead, each of us must respond to the draconian federal policies impacting our community and to bring hope to all of us living in fear.”
Waggoner recounted a story of how her ancestors sought to escape poverty and oppression by “riding across the ocean in the bottom of a boat” to America.
“They arrived weak in body, but strong in hope for a better life in a democracy promising life, liberty and the opportunity to pursue happiness. They longed for justice now,” said Waggoner to which the crowd responded “love wins” each time the phrase "justice now" was spoken.
Waggoner also took aim at policies implemented by the federal government since President Donald Trump took office in January, and mentioned the detention of a member of her church by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“So we will not stand idly by and see our neighbors racially profiled, oppressed and dragged away from their families. We stand together with you tonight for justice now. … We particularly carry in our hearts Fernand Rangel-Saucedo. Twenty years in this country and a family man. A member of our congregation, who entered ICE detention in early June and continues to be in a detention center in Tacoma.”
The event was organized by people of faith from a number of local congregations, including Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Holy Wisdom Inclusive Catholic Community, St. John | San Juan Episcopal Church, The United Churches of Olympia, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church of Olympia, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation and Olympia Friends Meeting.
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CobraCommander
Immigrants have been, and always will be, a vital part of the fabric of America.
Unless you are from an indigenous group, you are an immigrant or a descendant of immigrants.
Monday, August 25, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Hundreds, that must have been all of them. Cobra in with an absolute liberal-tier take.
Monday, August 25, 2025 Report this
terry
Failure of state and local law enforcement to work with ICE to secure criminal immigrants means more non-criminal illegals will be taken into custody. The first instance is narrowly targeted the second option simply means criminal and non-criminal aliens will be swept up collectively. Ironic but true.
Monday, August 25, 2025 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
Took my parents 6 years to LEGALLY immigrate here. Needed a: sponsor, place to stay, job, and health insurance. Rules are the same today.
I have volunteered for 3 organizations that help fight Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. The number one cause is ILLEGAL immigration. Common sense please.
Monday, August 25, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
Typical brain worm response from SSG. Move to Florida already.
Monday, August 25, 2025 Report this
JanVanPelt
Thanks for the good reporting. Many of us that were present were protesting the thuggery of ICE masked, wearing no identifying badge, grabbing people —targeting Brown and Black people —from their workplaces, The brutality is almost unbearable to watch. I can’t believe this is happening in our country. 70% of those are kidnapped without due process and often disappeared– 70% of them have no criminal record. I fear that we are becoming a police state. Reminiscent of some of the central American countries I’ve visited in past years. We need more voices in protest. Long live democracy! Speak and act before it’s too late.
Monday, August 25, 2025 Report this
mhjwilson
Where are notices of events like this posted?
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Report this
Dogbody
mhjwilson To judge by the photos posted here on the Jolt, you will find this type of event posted at the South Sound Senior Center.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Report this
JW
Yawn. If you didn't break the law you have nothing to worry about.
As usual the leftists are either so dishonest or so mentally incompetent they conflate legal immigration with illegal.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
@JW, we have Veterans who have lived and worked in The US for 20 years in Detention in Tacoma And have homes Families and have been Granted Citizen Visas For 20 years. now in Solitary Confinment WITH NO CRIMES OR CHARGES! YOU DONT KNOW SQUAT. I'LL BET you don't want to believe the Horrible, InJustice that President Hitler has Invoked. His Crime is Being from Pakistan, now named as a Terrorist Country. He's lived In America For 20 years. Proved his alliances with America, what your excuse for that kind of INJUSTICE? Im sure you and S.S. GUY Will come up with some Polarized B.S. to reclaim your Utter Stupidity. **** gonna hit the Fan Real soon, now Military Takeovers in Our Major cities.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Report this
Chris_R
I hadn't heard of Chaudhry, but a quick search found a bit more information:
Chaudhry has a complicated immigration history. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services notified him of intent to rescind his permanent resident status in 2003, setting off a lengthy legal battle. He applied for naturalization in 2013, but a federal court ruled against him. He has an appeal before the 9th Circuit. Court records say Chaudhry used aliases, was convicted of fraud in Australia and failed to disclose his criminal history when applying for visas and jobs. In 1996, while living in Sydney, he impersonated a passenger using the man’s passport to apply for a Medicare card, state ID and bank account. Police also found he had used a stolen American Express card more than two dozen times. He pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges that year. According to those same documents, he later attempted to re-enter Australia with a fraudulent passport in 2000 before entering the U.S. on a tourist visa and settling in Yakima, Washington. Within months, he married a U.S.-born woman who filed a visa petition on his behalf. On his status application, Chaudhry falsely claimed he had no prior arrests. He later enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard and applied for a reserve officer position with the Yakima Police Department, again submitting false information. In 2003, his Guard unit was activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom, but he reported a back injury during training before any deployment. That same year, immigration officials moved to rescind his permanent resident status but abandoned the case under the mistaken belief he was serving overseas.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Report this
Wesley
deport Deport DEPORT!
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Report this
DHanig
For Zahid's perspective, see https://melissa4congress.substack.com/p/countering-the-smear-campaign-against?triedRedirect=true
Friday, September 5, 2025 Report this