Hundreds participate in faith led procession in response to recent ICE activity

In response to the recent immigration enforcement in San Diego and across the country, hundreds took the streets of Barrio Logan for a procession that ended with a vigil.

Among the large crowd were faith leaders and community members representing 40 different congregations from all across San Diego County.

Some of the participants arrived in charter buses.

“Bring your hopes and bring your dreams, mercy flows, and love redeems,” were the lyrics from one of the hymns that was sung.

With hymns, posters, and heavy hearts, hundreds of people from different congregations united as one.

“Almighty God, help us to be the voice of unity, compassion and equality,” another faith leader said.

Hundreds took the streets of Barrio Logan to voice concerns surrounding recent ICE enforcement activity.

“We have to come together to raise our voice, raise our awareness, that life is sacred, dignity and values need to be uphold,” Bishop Michael Pham with the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego said.

“I think there’s a lot of pain and sadness and trying to figure out really where do I place that,” Dinora Reyna who helped organize the event said.

“What I’m seeing right now, with ICE, with our government and the cruelty to people, is not right that’s not the United States that I know,” Brian Rickling said.

As the large crowd made its way through the neighborhood, they stopped at five sites that have been impacted by ICE activity.

Together they prayed over each site.

Meanwhile, neighbors stepped outside as hundreds walked in front of their homes.

The procession ended at the front steps of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, where faith leaders asked federal leaders to change policies they say undermine the dignity and humanity of the undocumented immigrants.

“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” Bishop Pham said.

“What affects one person really impacts all of us,” Reyna said.

“Our government needs to understand that that’s not what we the people, we the people, want in our country,” Rickling said.

“All are welcome, all belong,” sung one participant at the keys.

According to organizers, more than 1,600 people were present at the event.