'They Don't Feel Safe': Local Skater Helps Raise Funds For Immigrants Affected By ICE Raids

REDONDO BEACH, CA — As immigration raids took Los Angeles by storm in June, Steven Bradley found himself posting his support through Instagram stories.

But as weeks went by and the ICE agents continued conducting enforcement across Southern California, Bradley said he wanted to find a more meaningful way to help.

"I no longer want to take passive action," Bradley told Patch. "I'm actually going to do something because it's at my f***ing front door. ICE is here."

Bradley, with the help of his friend and Hawthorne artist Cuco, thought the best way to help was to create a 10-mile skate fundraiser from Redondo Beach to El Porto in Manhattan Beach and Back. Hot Wheels Melt ICE, they called it.

The idea behind the event is to bring the skateboarding community together to raise funds based on the miles each skater rides. Whether skaters donate $1, $5 or $10 per mile, anything helps, Bradley said.

"The plan is to skate the strand the whole way," Bradley said. "Ideally, it's going to happen during sunset. I think it's going to be beautiful."

All the funds raised from the event will go to Raíces ConVoz, a Latino-led public health collective that offers wellness spaces, health education and career support. Raíces ConVoz has been on the ground helping immigrant communities and vendors who have been "impacted by the ICE raids and can no longer be on the streets because they don't feel safe," Bradley said.

Bradley, who documents his skating journey on Instagram, said he's done community-based skateboarding events for a while now.

Back in college, Bradley started a skate club where he and his friends would meet up, skate and teach people. After college, he worked for the nonprofit, Stoked Mentoring, helping empower at-risk youth in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York through skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding.

But of the three sports, Bradley feels skateboarding has always been the most accessible.

"It's just what I love," Bradley, who hopes to one day start a skate nonprofit, said. "I think skateboarding provides joy and therapeutic value, as well as the physical accomplishment of keeping yourself healthy and strong."

As of Wednesday morning, Bradley's Hot Wheels Melt ICE campaign has raised $2,073 out of his $4,000 goal. To donate to the fundraiser, click here.

Hot Wheels Melt ICE will be held on Friday, July 25. Skaters looking to take part in the 10-mile sunset ride are asked to meet at Redondo Beach Skate Park at 6 p.m.