Stop Posting ICE Rumors

STOP Posting ICE Rumors...

I got into it again this week, and like I tell people, its not personal, but posting ICE rumors is bad. Mostly cause 99.9% of them are fake, but cause even in the event you somehow managed to crack the inner workings of one of the most secretive agencies... it won't prevent them from coming and doing their dirty.

It is well documented why you should not post these rumors, I mean if you ask google or ChatGPT, "why you shouldn't post ice rumors", it will tell you clearly why it is bad (image attached).

So, for those of you, and its been several, who got offended when I commented on your post, that it is bad to post ICE rumors and asked you to take them down... and you got upset. My comment started out polite, you interpreting as an insult, might be because you didn't have good intent, then it became an insult.

I have mentioned this to lots of people, who were like, oh I didn't know, and took it down right away. THANKS! You rock. If you have other friends who post stuff, you could comment my blog link so they know its not good to post.

I have mentioned it to people, whose motives I then have to question, who were like, naw I want to keep to it up. So for you I assume you, A.) want the attention "look I think I know what ICE is doing", B.) hey look I care about immigrants, but I really don't, cause posting ICE rumors is bad, C.) hey I think likes and shares are more important than people's safety so I am keeping this up.

Anyhow... hopefully this helps. Also reminder groups like National Immigrant Justice Center (I posted their KYR recently) and La Casa de Amistad have great resources on how you should prepare for what unfortunately is inevitable these days...

Let's stop stirring fear, lets be ready, and lets fight back.

Present, Responsive, Consistent, and Credible

I was interviewed the other day by a site called Canvas Rebel and they asked me what I thought helped build my reputation in the region. Those four words popped up to me right away and I felt like the gut reply really captured my thought well, and authentically. You can read my full write up here: Meet Sam Centellas

Be present, be responsive, be consistent, and be credible. 

Present: I am there, I speak up, and I am where I am supposed to be whether I am tired or not. I think showing up is very important, speaking up about what matters is critical, and not being a wall flower but being part of pushing for whatever is next. 

Responsive: I answer emails quickly, and I make appointments and keep them. I think people under estimate the power of replying quickly, and more underestimate the power of giving your opinion. 

Consistent: this is hard as I am building a new company right now, but being consistent in what you say, how you say it, and when/why you say it is important. Always share why you do things, not just how. 

Credible: Do what you said you will do, everyday. Do everything with all your skills and don't slack, I do procrastinate, but I don't cut corners. Work hard where it matters and give it your all, ignore all the fluff and distractions.

I wanted to document these answers on my blog here and share it again. I also wanted to add something that I think is important as well, and thats about having fun. I never take myself too seriously, and also like to have fun and encourage others to do so. When we have fun and let loose, the real us comes through, and people get to know, and connect with, the real you. 

Sharing with people my love of cars, my love of tinkering, my love of trying new things... I would have made many less connections over the years. I hope the people who know me, might know me as a hard worker, but I hope they also know me as a fun car guy. 

Check out the interview... they pasted my bio in there as is, so ignore how dry that is, but the rest I enjoyed doing and thought it represented me well. 

Note: I am not perfect at any of these things, I don't claim to be, but I am saying they are important. I strive for these, and often fall short, but it doesn't mean I don't push myself to be better, and hope others push to be their very best selves as well. 

Why I Went

No Kings Rally. June 14th, 2025. 

I went. 

I have not gone to a "rally" in I can't remember how long... honestly since maybe when it felt like a part of my job at La Casa de Amistad. 

I'll tell you why I usually don't go to them... they feel often like a performance. Like a, "hey look at me, I believe these things", well, err, at a minimum saying, "Hey look at me, I want you to think I believe these things." 

I got jaded, honestly still kinda am, and was always disappointed in the follow through, follow up, and true actions of myself and many of the people who attend rallies. When it came time to help register people to vote, only a handful of LWV members (I love them!) and Greg Chavez (he was the best)... pounding pavement. When it came time to actually speak out again racism, to push against structural issues in our world that cause the problems we often protest... often crickets. 

Everyone wants to cheer at a rally, hold a funny sign, and post a social media video while standing in the middle of the street. When it comes time to do the work though... less people show and sacrifice to create the change.  

I thought about not going. I thought about my struggles with feeling like a hypocrite...

Who hold signs but don't donate to causes,
Who say abolish ICE, but can't drive to the westside to buy groceries,
Who march up and down chanting but won't volunteer,
Who have Black Lives Matter stickers, but drive their kids to all white schools.

I went. 

For sure not for the speeches... cause honestly most of them are just saying things to get cheers. Normally no one at a rally gets their mind changed, no Trump support listened and said, "wow that is a good point, I better take off this hat." When I spoke at those back in the day I would always tell people things to do to help. Like if you want to make this better, spend money on the westside, stop sending your kids to all white schools, donate to non-profits until it hurts. Are we more focused on padding our 401k than we are on supporting causes that matter?

Some of my advocacy wear.

I went.

Glad I was there for the kid, you maybe saw as well, walking around the place alone, with a pride flag and dyed hair, quiet and walking loops. They needed us there, so did some of the young immigrant kids, whose parents hear slurs often and are discriminated upon regularly... to feel welcomed. I think about the young black kid who walked by a sign that says racism is wrong. To know the discrimination they will face growing up is not their fault, that it is wrong, and that we are working on it. 

I really want less rallies and more people actively doing the things that are going to make the world a better place. Rallies don't change things, things change when you change and push others to change. What do I mean? Doing things like this:  

Shop at a Mexican grocery store.
Read about the economic oppression of black neighborhoods and what we can do about it.
Buy shampoo and brushes from a black-owned beauty supply store.
Volunteer in a program that supports low-income, minority, and/or immigrant communities.
Call out friends (or anyone) when they say something racist.
Donate to a cause/place that is actively involved in fighting racism, oppression, and that is helping to empower others. 

I went. 

It was for my kids honestly. I am not great about talking to them about these things, I assume they know how I feel, and what I think is important, but and it was a good opportunity to share with them. Not just that people don't like Trump's orange skin and hair, but that his policies are terrible and racist. That the people he appoints and promotes are not qualified, his policies are mega bias, and that racism is wrong. 

I am not rejuvenated, maybe more worried than ever, but hopeful. I am feeling, what can I do now? That is what I walked away from Saturday thinking. It is not enough to just try and teach my kids right, but how do we do more, how do we harness rally energy regularly, monthly, how do we advance causes that matter? How will do you do it? How will we all do more than just rally, how will do fix it all? 

I went. The following day, I went with the kids to Rosales Market to grocery shop, we got ice cream at La Rosita. It's something, it's a start. What are you doing differently now? 

I went. Glad I went. Now where do we go next?