What: Vigil for families affected by deportations

 

When: Saturday, August 23 at 6 p.m.

 

Where: St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church (25236 Coastal Boulevard, Onley, VA 23418)

 

Onley, Va.—Virginia Organizing will hold a prayer vigil to protest the deportations in Northampton County and call on President Barack Obama to extend relief from deportations to millions of families by expanding deferred action to aspiring Americans. The vigil will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Onley, Va. on Saturday, August 23 at 6 p.m.

 

Virginia Organizing South Hampton Roads Chapter leader Mary de los Angeles Sanchez said she plans to participate in the vigil “because our community needs comprehensive immigration reform. We will urge President Obama to take executive action to protect our communities from deportations and keep our families together. We need to lift our voices and fight for justice and respect for all people.”

 

Chapter leader Luz Maria Martinez Vasquez agrees with Sanchez. “We are standing in solidarity with refugees and immigrants because comprehensive immigration reform is important for everyone, not only Hispanics and Latinos.”

 

The vigil is part of a national movement to stop deportations in the U.S. and move toward comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

 

To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.