Cathedral Church of St. Paul.Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Demonstrators gathered Wednesday in Boston to show support for immigrants.
Called 'Prayer for Immigrant Neighbors,' people from different religious backgrounds met at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul for songs and prayers, then walked together through Boston Common to the State House.
Local religious leaders were among the people rallying for the rights of immigrants.
The rally was held on the heels of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in cities including Chelsea that the Trump administration said are to arrest criminals and immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.
Elizabeth Grady Harper, with Boston Faith and Justice, said immigrants have played an important role throughout this country's history.
"Immigrants are such a huge part of our economy and our culture and our society," she said. "This isn't a burden we are trying to carry. This is something we are trying to celebrate."
She added that immigrants make contributions "to Massachusetts, to Boston, to New England, to the country."
Rev. Mariama White Hammond, founding pastor of New Roots AME Church in Dorchester, said there are different ways to show support for immigrants. "We are standing with our neighbors," she said. "Some of us are going to visit people in detention. There's lots of different ways we need to stand."
People at the rally advocated for the Safe Communities Act which prohibits police in Massachusetts from being deputized as federal immigration agents and prevents police from asking about someone’s immigration status.
They also called on lawmakers to provide more legal aid for immigrants who are on trial.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
