Organizers of a pro-immigrant rally Saturday in Hamilton say they're even more inspired in the wake of Butler County woman's deportation.
"This is not the way we treat each other, and we won't sit aside and watch law abiding people be ripped from their families, for the sake of what exactly," asks Michaela Little.
Fellow organizer Billie Mays says the rally is about showing support for the community.
"What we hope that people will take away is a sense that people in this area stand for all humans," says Mays. "We stand for humanity. We have heart and compassion for people not to just be discriminated against or even terrorized in some way whether they're here legally or illegally."
Maribel Trujillo had been attending regular meetings with immigration officials but was suddenly picked up earlier this week and scheduled for deportation. The archdiocese of Cincinnati and The Guardian newspaper report the mother of four has no criminal record.
As of Friday, she is listed as being in ICE custody but has been moved from Butler County to Morrow County.
The rally begins at 3 p.m. at 345 High Street in Hamilton.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is planning a prayer vigil on Sunday:
People of all faiths will join in an ecumenical “Mercy for Maribel” prayer service at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 9, to pray that Maribel Trujillo Diaz not be deported but be allowed to remain with her loving family in Hamilton.
Participants will gather at St. Joseph Church, 171 Washington Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, which is at the corner of Second and Washington Streets. From there, they will pray the rosary in a procession from the church to the Butler County jail, about a 10-minute walk away. Police will accompany the procession to the jail.
