Thousands gather for 'Families Belong Together' immigration rally in Atlanta

ATLANTA — People of all ages took to the streets in downtown Atlanta Saturday to get their voices heard when it comes to the issue of immigration.

The “Keep Families Together” rally is part of a nationwide series of planned marches in response to the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policies for people wanting to enter the United States illegally.

However, last week the Trump administration reversed its zero-tolerance policy at the border.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms also took action and signed an executive order, suspending the city's long-running practice of housing the detainees.

Kalei Gansig, 15, and her mom, Lisa, showed Channel 2's Lauren Pozen their signs they made to take part in the national rally.

“I am glad that I am part of this movement. I want to change something here and it seems like we need to change something,” Kalei Gansing said.

Lisa Gansing said this is an issue that is close to her heart. Her parent was in an internment camp during World War II.

“I just wonder where humanity went. Why haven’t we learned from history? These scars last a lifetime,” Lisa Gansing said.

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Organizers said there's still a lot of work to be done.

“For us, we are talking about families in detention, separation between parents and children,” said Adelina Nicholls, from the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights.

Pozen learned from police that there were seven EMS calls due to the heat. There were no reports of arrests.

The Atlanta Police Department released the following statement regarding a crowd outside of the jail:

“We are mindful of demonstrators right to assemble peaceably and always work to keep the public safe during protests. But we cannot allow demonstrators to block streets and otherwise create unsafe situations.

We hope any demonstrators remaining at the jail peacefully disperse, but stand ready to act if they choose to violate the law."

Cox Media Group