Hundreds gather for 'Reclaim Our Streets' rally in Boyle Heights, opposing ICE raids

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Multiple "Reclaim Our Streets" rallies took place across Southern California on Tuesday -- opposing President Donald Trump's controversial ICE raids.

One of those rallies happened at Historic Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. Hundreds of people, including community residents and members of human rights groups, carried signs and chanted as they participated in a peaceful march in the block around the plaza.

It was a large turnout of people showing unity in condemning the ongoing immigration raids in the Los Angeles area. The atmosphere was positive, but their purpose was serious.

People rallying in the plaza enjoyed musical performances and heard from numerous speakers, some sharing their frustrations and struggles.

Among the speakers were families whose loved ones were taken into custody by masked agents.

"I feel so sad, so sad, because I can't believe this is happening," said one woman, who told Eyewitness News she's afraid to go to work and has been skipping medical appointments, worried that she'll be taken from her family.

Emma, a street vendor, was selling food outside of a Home Depot when she was suddenly surrounded and taken away by ICE agents two weeks ago.

"Kidnapping people, I call it kidnapping people," said Carlos, Emma's brother. "They took my sister like a criminal. She was selling carne asada."

Carlos said Emma has several health issues, including high blood pressure. She was taken to the downtown L.A. detention center and didn't have her medications. She was briefly hospitalized, but is now at the detention facility in Adelanto.

"She didn't take a shower for eight days. No clothes. That's not human treatment. How are you going to treat a human like that?" Carlos said. "My life has turned 180 degrees because I don't have her; it's like something is missing in my heart."

Carlos says his family has been in the country for 25 years. He believes in following the rules, but wants the government to allow immigrants due process before deporting them.

Organizers of the event say that since the raids began last month, more than 2,000 people across the L.A. area have been taken off the street or from their workplaces by federal agents, leaving their families and many others in the community fearful and worried.

"The vast majority of them are innocent of any crimes. So we are here to lift up their stories," said Henry Perez with Innercity Struggle. "We're also here to make some demands. We want ICE to leave Los Angeles, to stop terrorizing our streets. We want all those that have been detained, that are innocent of any crimes, to be freed and reunited with their communities."

Organizers of the event are calling on local elected officials to investigate the federal agents involved in immigration enforcement.

"Families are really scared of not knowing who took their loved ones and where they were taken to," Perez said.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Rallies to be held across LA Tuesday as part of citywide day of action against immigration raids