A crowd of more than 100 people gathered outside the Lindenwold Borough building on Feb. 13 to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement action across South Jersey and, most recently, in their own community.

The event, which was planned by 20-year-old Tatiana Mercer, coincidentally occurred just a day after an ICE enforcement at a Lindenwold apartment complex sent students fleeing from their bus stop in fear.

"This is only the beginning. Do not lose momentum. Continue to stand up for what is right," Mercer said to a crowd of demonstrators that surrounded her Friday afternoon.

"ICE is not welcome here."

Mercer was also joined by some elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, a South Jersey Democrat.

The Democratic congressman from Camden County spoke about his own family's experiences with immigration, criticizing a lack of transparency from ICE agents. He also called for the impeachment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. President Donald Trump.

"We are from all over the world," Norcross said to the diverse group of demonstrators. "We're immigrants that came together."

Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young encouraged the audience.

"Know your neighbor. Protect your neighbor," Young said.

"Let's not run from them now. Let's stand for them no matter what happens."

Demonstrators lined the sidewalk corner of the property, cheering, blowing whistles and waving flags from various countries.

Signs, written in both Spanish and English, denounced ICE and Trump. Some called for unity.

"I was out on the street 55 years ago," said one woman from Camden County who requested not to be named. "I can't believe I need to be doing this same stuff again, but we're going to do it."

"People have the power, you know, and that's what we're doing. We're making ourselves known, and it's going to have an impact. I truly believe it's going to have an impact."

As the crowd thickened, traffic moving past the building chimed in, adding a cacophony of car horns to the cheering and Spanish music filling the early-evening air.

Joshua Asadi-Wright, a 22-year-old from Lindenwold, gave his reason for demonstrating.

"We need everyone to stand up in the world together, because at the end of the day, [we're] all human," he said.

"We all built this country together."