“El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” chanted 14-year-old Jaden Tagle in his first protest, surrounded by a sea of red T-shirts that formed the 2019 United Teachers of Los Angeles labor strike. Launched by an assembly of teachers demanding better quality public education and necessary school resources, the 2019 UTLA strike was the first in 30 years and lasted six days.
Tagle grew up in Orange County, but went to school in Southeast LA. He describes how in OC, he’d hear his friends’ families talk about their summer vacation, but in LA, he’d hear families come up with a game plan on how to stretch their income to the end of the month. “I consider my very existence to be political,” Tagle says. As a gay man, the son of an immigrant, raised in a Mexican household with a solid foundation of Latina presence in his family, he has become a megaphone for multiple demographics who may not have the same volume as him.
When talking about his strongest influences, Tagle mentions he comes from “a long line of smart, hardworking women,” such as his grandmother, who came from Mexico to the United States, coming to work as a factory worker and joining a union. His mother became a teacher and part of the UTLA. For his whole life, Tagle has been surrounded by union members.
Tagle has been a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a Marxist political party in the U.S., for the past year. He wanted to get involved with anything possible, from helping families after the January 2025 Palisades wildfires, to responding to the current ICE raids in surrounding cities, all while being drawn to the power of socialism.
As a community organizer, not only is he getting loud at protests, but also working behind the scenes to provide resources such as finding daycare for working parents or holding “Know Our Rights” trainings. He believes in the strength of fighting and organizing as a society. “We have the power as the working class,” says Tagle.
However, this isn’t always easy. Tagle explains the overwhelming and possibly dangerous aspects when it comes to speaking out. “There are definitely nights when I have to turn off my phone,” he says when describing how he deals with any backlash social media can bring when he posts anything political. He also mentions how he was tear- gassed by the Santa Ana Police Department during a protest. But he emphasizes that while these moments were tough for him, the struggles are not his main focus.
“I’m not doing this for ego. I’m not doing this for fame, I’m not doing this for money,” Tagle says. “I’m doing this because of my love for the people. I’m doing this for the promise that we can build a freer and more just world.” Tagle continues by saying, “I am nothing because I’m everyone. My politics are of the people, and you cannot kill the people.”
Tagle’s passion for education led him to be part of the El Dorado and Valencia High School walkout in February, guiding many students in their first anti-ICE protest. He helped guide around 800 students, teaching them chants such as “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Trump and ICE have got to go!” His sister Ariané, a student at one of the schools, promoted the protest on social media. At 17, she follows his footsteps in speaking out by using her social media platforms, such as Instagram, to post information on issues, such as the war on Iran and different ICE protests.
When asked about his sister, Tagle describes how proud he is of her and the way she lets her voice be heard. “Having the intellect, having the historical grounding, having the conviction, confidence, and support network to allow you to flourish as an individual is something that’s central to my relationship with my sister,” says Tagle. At the end of the day, Tagle wants people to remember, “History is not dead. History is made by the people.”
Taken from the Summer 2026 print issue of Inside Fullerton. Read it here.
