A small group of young people from Hazleton organized a demonstration to be a voice for their friends and family — people they say are scared under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
They stood proud of their heritage on the corner of Broad and Church Streets as cars passed through the busy intersection in the majority Hispanic city in Luzerne County. They waved Mexican and American flags and held up signs in Spanish and English.
Monzerrat Chagolla is 21. She organized the protest.
Chagolla held up a sign that read, "somos la voz de los que no pueden gritar que viva la raza."
"Which means we're the voice of the people who can't scream," she said.
She said she has many family members who are scared.
"But, you know, this is why I came out here to do this. It's worth it," Chagolla said.
Monserat Santizo is 18 and a first generation Mexican American who stood out in the cold for her parents.
"It just makes me feel really hurt because they're really hard working people at the end of the day, and they just want better life for us and for them," she said.
Tears welled in her eyes.
“I really want to be somebody in life, just to prove to everybody that even with parents that didn't really have anything growing up, I could really accomplish something," said Santizo.
As the sun set, the small protest grew larger. More than a dozen people of all ages joined Chagolla and Santizo on the corner.
City perspective
Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat said the current immigration issues are pushing the country further into division.
He says his main concern is the city.
"I hate that people from the outside are coming in here and trying to force us apart," Cusat said on Friday.
“I don't want to see people get deported that came here for the right reason, you know. But unfortunately, there's a lot of people that came in for the wrong reason."
Cusat said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has called the city to ask about individuals who had been arrested in Hazleton in the past.
“They're not calling in here 'Hey, did anybody move in lately that shouldn't be here?' Like that's not what's going on," he said.
ROBERT COLLADO, WVIA News, contributed to this report. More about Robert Collado
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