Dozens formed a tight circle at Joe Creason Park Friday night in the cold to unite their voices in support of neighbors living in fear for their safety.
By Meredith Lea
Published: Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:32 PM EST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Dozens of people who originally planned to meet inside St. Agnes Catholic Church instead formed a tight circle at Joe Creason Park Friday night, holding candles in the cold to unite their voices in support of neighbors living in fear for their safety.
Congressman Morgan McGarvey organized the interfaith vigil to remember people he describes as victims of brutality by federal immigration agents under the Department of Homeland Security’s command. The most recent cases, the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, are bringing people of different religious and political stripes together on this issue.
“We’ve had very high-profile deaths at the hands of federal agents, but there’s a lot of quiet terrors going on, too,” said Rev. Rachel Small Stokes of Emanuel United Church of Christ.
Rev. Kent Gilbert of Union Church in Berea said the gathering crossed demographic and political lines.
“This was every demographic. This was every political party. This was not political. This was moral,” Gilbert said.
For some attendees, like Mayra Ramos Johnson, who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, the fear feels like a personal confrontation.
“Everything can happen. And, you know, I have a boy that is seven. I don’t want my son to be scared,” Johnson said. “Just the trauma that the kids can have. Just for an officer to stop you and ask you based on your looks or your accent. That’s not fair.”
The group said their words have to be backed up with action and pressure.
“We have to stand up for what’s right. We have to stand up with each other and speak out against what we’re seeing,” McGarvey said.
Johnson said unity is needed now.
“I think now is the time to get united... we all have the same purpose to, you know, improve this world, this country, this city. So, like, we just need to support each other,” she said.
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