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The Vigil for Resistance is organized by Make the Road CT, Bridgeport Generation Now and CTCORE Organize Now and will be held on McLevy Green in Bridgeport from 5 to 7 p.m. Make the Road CT founder Julio Lopez told Daily Voice that it is a direct response to the executive orders the president signed last week on immigrants and refugees.
Participants will share stories and unite to resist these tough new immigration policies, Lopez said. Immigrant families and community members from all the towns and cities in Fairfield County are invited.
"Bridgeport is one of the biggest immigrant communities in Connecticut. We need to reflect on what's happened and try to build the communities and support each other to work together on the fight ahead."
He expects more than 100 people to come to the rally.
Immigrants "need to step it up a bit," said Lopez.
"We work mainly with Latino immigrants but members of the Muslim and other religious communities and groups are invited. It will be a really positive and powerful vigil. We hear from (immigrants) every day. Bridgeport is the center of other immigrant communities. We're framing it here as a Fairfield County event."
Fear is not new for immigrants, and more so now than before Donald Trump was elected, said Lopez. Make the Road CT has been active since the election, including holding a protest right before the inauguration demanding that Bridgeport be made a sanctuary city.
"A lot of people are feeling fear because communities are being threatened. The best way to counter that fear is to step up and work as a community. We have hundreds of members and many are telling us every day how they feel. This is in part a response of a community that's afraid. It speaks to condemn any actions that attack our community and anybody who supports Trump is really supporting tough immigrant policies."
The vigil from 5 to 7 p.m. is at McLevy Green, 177 State St., Bridgeport. It is an opportunity to share stories, meet neighbors, listen to music, and have coffee or hot chocolate.
Click here for the Make the Road Connecticut Facebook page.
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