On May 2,  approximately 100 individuals gathered in front of the Old Town Hall on Town Green in Herndon to celebrate Día Internacional de los Trabajadores (International Workers’ Day). The early evening rally organized by the New Virginia Majority (NVM) aimed to bring together the working and immigrant communities, according to Josif Ezekilov, a local advocate for NVM.

“This is a time of a lot of fear within our immigrant community — the current persecution they're facing with the Trump administration," Josif Ezekilov, advocate for NVM, said. "We wanted to show that the Town of Herndon is a place for everybody, and we're all welcome here, ... including the immigrant class.”

The rally served as a peaceful expression advocating for an end to executive overreach. Protest signs displayed messages such as “#RESIST,” “Hands off national judges,” and “Por mas salarios dignos” (For more decent wages). A sign raised prominently read, “Vote in every election.”

A poignant theatrical performance narrated the journey of an immigrant woman from Honduras and her recent experiences in the U.S. Her mother is confined to bed and lacks health insurance; her husband has been deported. The employer terminates the woman's employment due to her tardiness. She had been assisting her mother. The woman learns not to be afraid; she is not alone. Together, they will move forward, supporting each other. 

The New Virginia Majority does not support Youngkin’s statements regarding sanctuary cities, Ezekilov said. “We are working to ensure that the immigrant class can lead a life here that they deserve, given that they're the backbone of Virginia's economy.”