SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Community members gathered for a solidarity standout Tuesday evening to show support for local Somali Bantu residents following recent comments made by President Trump toward Somalis. The standout, held in front of South Congregational Church, was organized to send a message that harmful rhetoric has no place in the community, organizers said.

President Trump recently issued negative remarks about Somali-American communities and stated multiple times that he does not want Somalians in the U.S. and that they “contribute nothing.” He said, “I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks and we don’t want them in our country.” In another statement, Trump said, “The Somalians should be out of here. They’ve destroyed our country and all they do is complain, complain, complain.”

The series of comments prompted western Massachusetts neighbors, elected officials, clergy members, and others to hold the standout Tuesday night. Attendees said it demonstrated their commitment to protect those targeted by the federal administration with love and solidarity. “I am Puerto Rican and I have also been attacked too by this president that we have. We have been called names too and I feel like we have to be united, we have to put a stop to this situation, and let them know that were human, we’re here to stay, we’re good people,” said Rosa Valentin, director of MLL Program at Springfield Public Schools.

Springfield resident Fatuma Aden spoke about the impact of the president’s remarks. “That’s very hurtful for a president to say that about us. We are hard workers. I work a 12 hour shift every day to raise my kids, pay my bills,” Aden said.

Aden also expressed concerns about the real-life ramifications the comments pose for community members. “My parents don’t speak English, my grandparents don’t speak English. They don’t know how to defend themselves. Everybody’s scared right now to even go outside. Even if they have their citizenship, their passport, they can’t go outside because if they get pulled over by ICE, they may not know how to defend themselves,” she said.

Valentin expressed what she hopes the community takes away from the event. “We cannot continue supporting this type of behavior from our president. I think we need to act and we need to act soon,” she said.

People participating also said they will continue to stand in solidarity with all communities targeted by the federal administration. The standout was spearheaded by the organization Pioneer Valley Project.

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