Photos: Lights For Liberty at Alexandria’s Market Square

Alexandria, VA – Cries of “Close the camps!” rang out as Alexandria joined the rising chorus of people around the world calling for an end to the Trump administration’s detention and family separation policies of migrants at the southern border. There were more than 600 “Lights for Liberty” events around the country on Friday, July 12, and Alexandria’s was held right in front of City Hall at Market Square.

“You are here because you are not happy with what is being done in our name,” Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson told the audience. ‘We need to amplify our compassion and love.”

Susan Davis organized the event, and called on residents to contact their public officials to report raids from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and to urge against the detention and family separation of asylum seekers.

“This is the largest movement in history,” Davis said. “The number of events now exceeds the Women’s March.”

Other public officials in attendance included Del. Mark Levine (D-45), Del Paul Krizek (D-45), Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, City Councilors Mo Seifeldein and Amy Jackson, and former Mayor Allison Silberberg.

“Are we going to let President Trump to define who we are as a nation?” Silberberg asked. “This is un-American.”