Hundreds gather for CASA in Action rally, door-knocking in Lancaster City

Hundreds of volunteers gathered in Roberto Clemente Park in Lancaster city on Saturday for a rally and door-to-door canvassing on behalf Democratic nominees on November's general election ticket, including Vice President Kamala Harris for president, her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr.

The event was organized by CASA in Action, an immigrant advocacy organization that operates in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

The rally was headlined by former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, who served as the U.S. representative for Illinois's 4th congressional district from 1993 to 2019. Gutiérrez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, spoke on the importance of Puerto Rican voters casting their ballots in November.

"Trump harbors a pain and disrespect that cannot return to the White House," Gutiérrez said to the crowd gathered in Lancaster on Saturday. "That's why Boricuas and immigrants united at this rally and are turning out voters in Pennsylvania. If we win Pennsylvania, we win the White House," Gutierrez said. Boricuas is a term for Puerto Ricans or people of Puerto Rican descent.

Jossie Flor Sapunar, the national communications director for CASA in Action, said the rally brought out over 200 volunteers, with about half coming from the Lancaster area and the rest coming from Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Event organizers said the door-to-door canvassing provided a chance for volunteers, many of whom are immigrants, to share their experience with the community about the challenges of the US immigration system.

"What I like most about this event is that it allows voters to hear from people with different immigration statuses directly," Sapunar said. "Sadly, the average American thinks immigrants should just wait in line. For many people, there is no line to begin with."

Organizers said they expected to knock on over 3,000 doors Saturday.

"What makes Lancaster special is that this city has been so welcoming in opening its arms to the immigrants that live here," Sapunar said.