NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The loved ones of those arrested in Nashville Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol's "public safety operation" has demanded answers; other community members gathered Wednesday night in what they called a show of strength for those families.

Dozens of people gathered in the parking lot of Glencliff High School in South Nashville with candles, showing support for all those affected by ICE activity within the past week. According to a Wednesday statement from the THP, the operation with ICE resulted in more than 350 traffic stops and ICE detained 94 individuals. ICE had previously told News 2 that 84 people had been detained.

Molly Kramer was in attendance.

"I just had to do something," Kramer said. "I feel really heartbroken about what's happening — people being taken away with no due process because of their immigration status. I just think it's disgusting ... I just wanted to bring my kids out and let them see that their community is not going to allow this to go on."

Metro Councilmember Ginny Welsch was one of several leading the vigil.

"There's a lot of talk about people being illegal or people being this or that — and no human being is illegal," Welsch said. "When people in our community can be randomly scooped up, when they can be randomly taken away from their families, no information given out. No one is safe. We have Constitutional rights and we need to stand up for those Constitutional rights.

Welsch said the show of support is also a call to action.

"We can't just stand aside when they are being abused by a system," Welsch added. "We just can't accept that, and we need to make sure that we are taking action to push back and push back strong."

She mentions how much immigrants here add to the Nashville community and beyond.

"They add so much to our life here and to the culture of our city," Welsch said. "Our city is not what it is without them."

Families like Kramer's braved the rain to also stand up for what they believe in.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/i-just-had-to-do-something-nashvillians-gather-in-show-of-support-for-those-affected-by-ice-operation/