The event featured food, music, and several speakers.
Frederick, MD – A rally to support the Frederick immigrant community was hosted at the Carroll Creek Amphitheater Sunday afternoon, featuring food, music, and several speakers.
The Frederick Unity Rally was hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland and the Resources for Immigrant Support and Empowerment (R.I.SE) Coalition of Western Maryland.
According to ACLU’s event web page, the rally wanted to be a celebration of the immigrant community and to “show Sheriff Jenkins that we are united against hatred and white supremacy.”
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin was featured at the event and spoke about a pressing need for immigration reform.
“Immigrants are not taking our jobs,” Raskin said. “Immigrants are stimulating the economy, immigrants are creating jobs and business, and we know that. They are a part of our community.”
The Unity Rally took place in downtown Frederick at the same time as the Citizens for 287(g) Rally, which supports a controversial immigration program that allows county detention center personnel to check the immigration status of those arrested by deputies.
The ACLU and RISE have both denounced 287(g) in the past, stating the program paints all immigrants as criminals and most of the deportations result from arrests for non-violent crimes or traffic offenses.
“Frederick Douglass said if there’s no stuggle, there is no progress,” Raskin said. “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has, and it never will.”
By Timothy Young