LYNN — The clouds seemed to part at just the right moment Wednesday evening, as the rain stopped, the community gathered on the steps of Lynn District Court to hold a vigil for those impacted by ICE
The event was sponsored by the North Shore Labor Council of Massachusetts, with hosts of Lynn’s LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts Hub and Nueva Primavera.
Dozens gathered with signs in hand and on display with photos of individuals who are victims of ICE attacks. With Candles lit, the community spoke out against ICE.
Local Pastor Eduardo Cáceres led a prayer to begin the vigil.
“We hope this prayer reaches you and brings comfort to those; we hope that every tear that is shed brings comfort; we ask you to open heaven to those people who lost their lives; we hope that this brings comfort to all of those who have lost family in these trying times,” he said.
Members of the Lynn community also spoke at the vigil, including Silvia, whose husband was arrested by ICE agents on his way to work on July 1, 2025. Her children, one of whom also spoke and highlighted that he missed his father greatly.
“I’m so thankful that we’ve been able to come here to this city where at first we felt really welcome and really safe, but now because of everything that’s going on we no longer feel that,” she said, her words being translated by LUCE Volunteer Yaira Matos.
She said, “I thank God that I can be here on this ground, and that we can all be gathered here today to look at all of these people who have been removed.”
Another woman, Judith, said her husband was detained by ICE while at Lynn District Court. The officers broke his arm. Now, due to the attack, it no longer functions as it should. She was also translated by Matos.
Judith said she has not seen her husband since June 14, and he missed his child’s birthday.
She said her child needs their father around and “we need that extra support, and right now we’re trying everything we can to get him out, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen any time soon, and it’s been really difficult for us because we’re calm people, we’re very humble people.”
Eni, another speaker who was translated by Matos, said, “We need to lift our voice and say no to ICE and their kidnapping of people, because realistically they’re taking way too many people, including my husband.
“There have been so many deaths because of immigration, so many victims, so many families are left without their fathers and their mothers; we have to fight,” she said.
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
