Sunday Mornings Standing With Brad in Manhattan Beach to protest ICE arrests
In March 2025, Manhattan Beach resident and former Daily Breeze photographer Brad Graverson began bearing witness against the national ICE arrests of immigrants by sitting in his wheelchair at 33rd Street and Sepulveda Boulevard every Sunday, and waving protest signs at passing motorists.
An unexpected result, he said, has been the opportunity it presented to meet his neighbors. Over the weeks increasing numbers of them joined him with their own protest signs. Two Sundays ago, January 11, following the fatal January 7 shooting by an ICE agent of 37-year-old American citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, over 200 fellow protestors joined Graverson at what has become known as Brad’s Corner.
This past Sunday, January 18, over 50 protestors returned to Brad’s Corner. Among them was Delores Gilmore, who was inspired by Graverson’s witness to write the following poem.
“Sunday Mornings Standing With Brad”
by Delores Gilmore
He sat alone on Sunday mornings
His olive flannel shirt buttoned tight
Against the damp ocean chill
Tan baseball cap shaded his eyes
ICE arrest protestors arrive Sunday morning, January 18, at Brad’s Corner in Manhattan Beach. Photos by Kevin Cody
His right hand gripping the black lever
Wheelchair moved to his spot
on the corner
In sight of vehicles on Pacific Coast Highway
As they stopped at the red light
Mickey McRae, of Hermosa Beach.
His whistle, activated by a button
on his chair
Shrieked
Alerting car occupants to read
His protest signs clipped to the chair
Melanie Mosher, of El Segundo.
Hands Off Health Care
Fight Injustice
Democracy For All
Go Dodgers!
Deborah Porter and Joanne Hadley, of Manhattan Beach.
Most just drive by
Not to be bothered
Anxious
To get to their destination
Clemson Crenshaw, of Los Angeles, and Valeria Chow, of Torrance.
Some honk; wave approval
The Sheriff Deputy’s discrete,
small hand wave
The bus driver thumbs up, blasting horn
The Vespa driver beeping agreement
Siobhan Donavan and Robert London, of Manhattan Beach.
Some spew vile words
Vulgar hand signals
But too few to mention
Or care about
Lindsey Pinkham of El Segundo, and Barbara Casillas, of Torrance.
Brad had found his voice
During his Sunday morning vigils
A one man wheelchair protest
Versus powerful political hacks.
Star Dodd, of Palos Verdes, and Lynn, of Redondo Beach.
The next Sunday
A woman appeared on
Brad’s corner
Whistle in hand, sign on pole:
Due Process
Star Dodd, of Palos Verdes, and Lynn, of Redondo Beach.
There were two,
Then three,
Then twelve souls
Standing on the corner with Brad
I zip up my blue hoodie
Brace myself and join
The small but growing
Group of disenfranchised
protesters
Defend Democracy sign
in arthritic hands
an orange whistle
A hot pink fedora, lettered
With “Be The Revolution”
Brad Graverson and Dennis Mosher, of El Segundo.
A nod to Gil Scott Heron.
I found my voice again
Standing with Brad
On Sunday mornings.