GREENFIELD — State legislators, town officials and residents gathered outside City Hall Saturday afternoon to show solidarity with immigrant communities, calling out the impact of federal immigration policies and urging continued support amid the rising threat of deportations.

At its peak, roughly 200 people gathered outside City Hall and on the Greenfield Common for the immigrant rights rally organized by Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR). Signs and banners varied in messaging, with some condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the presidential administration as a whole, while others spoke to the value of diversity, the need for peace and the power of democracy.

Some of the main rally speakers included Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, both of whom spoke to what they are doing in their positions of power at the state level, as well as what their concerns are with current federal immigration policies.

“You should imagine that the Legislature sees ourselves as a line of defense for our people,” Comerford said, mentioning work done at the state level to support immigrants, regardless of citizen status. “You should imagine that we care deeply about feeding our neighbors, regardless of documentation; about housing our neighbors, regardless of documentation.”

Blais emphasized that coming together is better than being divided and decried the federal government’s actions.

“I am so grateful for the organizers who brought us here today to talk about the fact that what is happening at the federal level is not OK,” she said. “Division only happens when we sew it, lines are only drawn when we draw them, and we are not doing that here in western Massachusetts.”

One arm of Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution, the Immigrants Rights Task Force, provided information on how to report ICE activity through the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts, what rights people have as citizens and non-citizens, and what causes attendees can donate to as a way to support immigrants.

Task force member Judith Roberts said the group of now 500 members was established over the winter after President Donald Trump took office due to his administration’s plans for mass deportations of migrants, among other border and immigration enforcement plans. She emphasized their non-violent and cause-no-harm framework, and said the task force’s presence is to be in solidarity with Pioneer Valley immigrants who are fearful of protesting or participating in daily activities in public.

“We are in support of the immigrant community and we take direction from them. Obviously, they’re not here today because they can’t stand up. It’s not safe for them to stand out in public,” Roberts said, a point that was reiterated by musician Annie Hassett, who said during her speech that there weren’t many communities of color present at the rally due to fear of ICE.

To support those who don’t feel safe in the face of ICE activity, Roberts said organizers of the rally wanted to show resistance to the “unlawful, illegal seizure of people who are doing no wrong.”

As reported by Reuters, the White House wants ICE to achieve higher daily arrest quotas of 3,000 migrants per day, up from the earlier target of 1,000 per day. Federal statistics show 47% of those currently detained by ICE have no criminal record and fewer than 30% have been convicted of crimes, despite the administration’s effort to target criminal migrants. Detainment numbers indicate there are 59,000 people in immigration detention facilities across the United States, and those detention facilities were, as of June 23, operating at more than 140% capacity, according to CBS News.

The day before Saturday’s rally, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would terminate temporary protected status for Haiti, which would put up to 500,000 Haitians at risk of deportation once the designation expires later this summer, according to POLITO.

“Massachusetts’ Haitian community is vibrant, resilient and valued. They are our neighbors, business owners, teachers, early educators and health care providers,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement Saturday. “Fifteen years ago, they fled a devastating earthquake, and more recently flood, famine and violence in Haiti — which is still ongoing — and came here in search of a better, safer life. The United States government gave them permission to be here in a protected status years ago, but now President Trump is taking that away. ... This is devastating for them and for our workforce and economy. My heart goes out to Massachusetts’ Haitian community. We are going to do all that we can to support you.”

Despite the odds facing immigrant communities and the ICE activity in the Pioneer Valley, Roberts said she hoped Saturday’s rally was a chance to make “horror into hope” for immigrants by seeing the support around them publicly.

“We’ve heard from the immigrant community that it makes them feel hopeful to see people standing up and to see the signs when you drive down the street,” she said. “And of course, it raises our spirits as well.”

A day of democracy

Just next door to the immigrant rights rally at 3 p.m., the League of Women Voters of Franklin County held its annual legislative coffee at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center with Comerford, Blais and Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, who answered questions from league members and the public.

Subjects included the fiscal year 2026 budget, rural education, public transportation, immigrant rights and local action that can be taken to combat the Trump administration. Many of the topics discussed echoed those from the ongoing rally just outside the door.

“Like what had just happened outside, it’s empowering to us,” Blais said to the group of roughly 20 attendees.

Regarding what can be done to show resistance to the federal government, Whipps told constituents that continuing to meet for rallies and conversations at a local level is important. She also emphasized the need to get younger generations involved in the rallies and grassroots effort.

“We can continue to meet out here,” she said, adding that the local movement is growing among her constituents in Orange, with 600 people attending the recent “No Kings” protest there on June 14. “Six hundred people in Orange is a huge turnout.”

Marie Gauthier, president of the League of Women Voters of Franklin County, noted the original legislative coffee was supposed to be held on April 5, but the national “Hands Off” protests led the group to cancel so its members could join in the protests.

This time, the rally outside ended up being a “nice dovetail” for the program, Gauthier said, with similar topics discussed by the legislators and people from the rally coming inside to listen.

“It humanizes the process,” Gauthier said when asked about the impact of allowing constituents the opportunity to speak directly to their legislators. “It shows them how comfortable their lawmakers are and how they truly are working for us.”

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.