ALEXANDRIA, Va. 鈥� More than 100 people gathered in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County on Saturday afternoon in protest of .
The in a shopping center across the street from the Rising Hope Mission Church, just off Richmond Highway.
鈥淲e stand beside you, we stand for you, we will fight for your safety to be here with us, your right to be among us,鈥� said the Rev. Keary Kincannon, the pastor at Rising Hope Mission Church and one of the vigil鈥檚 organizers. 鈥淲e welcome you to this community.鈥�
Kincannon said he鈥檒l continue to preach that sort of messaging regardless of the political climate.
鈥淢y life鈥檚 work is to live the gospel,鈥� said Kincannon, 鈥渁nd the gospel of Jesus Christ is an inclusive gospel that includes everybody. And so yes, I鈥檓 going to keep fighting for those who are left out.鈥�
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam was among the dozens who stopped by to show support.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all immigrants at one point in time,鈥� said Northam. 鈥淛ust the way they鈥檝e been treated lately, the fear that has been instilled in them, is not right.鈥�
Northam said the message from the state is 鈥渨e鈥檙e inclusive, we live in a very diverse society, and our doors are open and our lights are on, and we welcome people into the commonwealth of Virginia.鈥�
Little is known about the six people who were taken away by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or why it even happened. Oscar Rameriz was there when it all happened.
鈥淎bout 14 officers, they stopped us over there,鈥� said Rameriz, pointing at a shopping center across the street. Rameriz said that only he and one other person were released.
Kincannon said he thinks the raid was more of a fishing expedition through the local Latino population.
鈥淭here were people that were taken away here for no apparent reason other than they seemed to be Latino from other counties,鈥� he said.
He said his church would continue to open itself to anyone who in need of service. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 ask your immigration status any more than we ask you your political affiliation,鈥� he said.
