Monterey Rally, Central Coast residents advocate for separated border families
Five hundred kids separated from their families at the border may have been reunited. But a Trump Administration Official wasn’t sure how many were still in custody or were no longer in the country.
But Central Coast residents are still angry about the policy that let this happen in the first place.
Dozens gathered in Monterey to urge county republicans to join the fight against what they call inhumane treatment at the border.
It’s an issue that has enraged the country – parents and children being separated at the border.
After all that outrage, an executive order from President Trump ending it, but some on the Central Coast say they want more.
“It’s good that he signed the executive order but the big issue here is that we still have 2,000 children that are still in cages because of the previous act,” said Grant Hill who helped organize the event.
Those rallying in Monterey came with a message of unity.
“What we’re asking is that both parties show some humanity, that the Republican Party and the Democratic Party show some humanity,” Hill said.
They gathered at the Monterey County Republican headquarters hoping to spread that message.
“Me as a mother would be very upset if my child was taken, I feel for these mothers,” Margaret Rebecchi, Hollister resident.
Though the headquarters was closed, local party leaders did write on Facebook saying in part:
“….While we commend President Trump for taking action this week to keep families together, we know that a piecemeal approach to this problem is just a temporary bandage. Both Republicans and Democrats in DC must come to the table to develop a framework that balances both our desire to be compassionate and our need for security.”
Though legislation in Washington was pushed back another day, those at the rally remained hopeful.
“This is something that transcends political lines and political divides,” Salinas resident Alexia Garcia said, “I really hope that we can come together.”