Faith in Kern Leaders Lead Nightly DACA Rallies Outside Local McCarthy, Valadao Offices for Lent

By Jeff Platt—Feb. 16, 2018

The 40 days of lent have begun and here in Bakersfield, that means 40 days of protests.

The people behind the demonstrations said they’re giving up a little bit of their time for lent in hopes of getting permanent protections for children brought to the country illegally.

Faith in the Valley Kern is a network of churches and congragations and you’ll see them fighting for DACA recipients outside local congressional offices until Easter Sunday.

A few dozen people rallied in front of Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s office Friday.

It’s the first of what will be many rallies calling for a “clean dream act”.

The group calls it “40 Days for Action” as they plan to rally all 40 days of lent and they’ll keep coming back until they get what they’re looking for.

“If I get a promise on day 22, on day 22 I’m still going to be here even if I’m standing here alone with my rosary and God. That’s it,” said Stephanie Smith, a prayer leader and rganizer of the lent rally series.

Also among the ralliers was Josephina Villarreal, a mother of seven, who said she’s going to get to as many rallies as she can of the 40 in support of the mother’s of DACA recipents.

We all need to just stick together,” said Villarreal. “Everyone deserves to be here and so I’m here in solidarity.”

Read more at BakersfieldNow.com.