Hundreds of people marched through downtown Athens Thursday night in protest of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Gathering at the Arch, a crowd including a range of ages, races and ethnicities but heavy on Hispanics in their teens and 20s marched to City Hall for an hour-long rally. The gathering filled the entire block along College Avenue at its peak, spilling out into the street.
“Today we show we will not be silenced while our friends, family and classmates live in fear,” one speaker said.
There have been unconfirmed reports on social media of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operating in Athens, and several speakers shared their stories of watching their parents be taken away.
“They came here for a better life, a better education, and it’s not fair to send them back for doing nothing wrong,” one said.
Another emphasized immigrants’ impact on the economy, creating jobs by starting businesses rather than stealing them from native-born Americans.
“Immigrants have always been the backbone of America, driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth,” he said. “When immigrants thrive, Americans thrive as well.”
As speakers took their turn at the bullhorn, a caravan of cars and pickup trucks driven by young Latinos circled the block, playing Spanish-language music, and waving Mexican flags. Other drivers honked in support as they passed by.
Across the street, about half a dozen counter-protesters told immigrants they would be deported and played clips from Donald Trump’s speeches, while local police watched both groups from a distance. The protest ended without incident around 8 p.m.
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