Not all of them were runners or marathoners, but that didn't stop hundreds of Angelenos, mostly dressed in white t-shirts, from participating in the Run against ICE through the main streets of Los Angeles in solidarity with the immigrant families who have been separated and to demand an end to the raids and deportations.

"I decided to run because my parents are undocumented. They are from Puebla, Mexico. They have been in the country for 25 years. My dad works in construction, and my mom works in sewing," says Soila Rodríguez, who joined the Race Against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

"I feel very scared, but I want to fight. I am very inspired by my parents who, even though they are scared, continue to go to work every day. They do it because we have no other option. We have to pay the rent and the utility bills. We can't stop," she says.

Soila acknowledges that since the raids began in Los Angeles on June 6, she and her family have been under a lot of stress.

"It's a nightmare! We can't sleep. I'm always alert, checking social media on my phone to see where ICE is, where there are raids. I want to make sure they're not near my parents."

Soila is also an immigrant, but she gains some confidence knowing she's protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

"I'm just a little calm because with Trump, you never know. You see, he has repeated TPS (Temporary Protected Status) for some countries, and the beneficiaries have already lost their work permits. Those of us who receive DACA could still be on his list of cuts tomorrow."

The 15-mile Race Against ICE began in Liberty Park in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles and ended at the traditional Olvera Plaza in downtown Los Angeles, with stops at iconic locations such as MacArthur Park, Echo Park, Chinatown, Boyle Heights, and the Metropolitan Detention Center.

They passed by the sites of the first ICE raids, such as the Home Depot on Wilshire Street and the Ambiance Apparel store in the Fashion District.

“The message we want to send to President Trump is resounding: Stop kidnapping our people, get ICE out of Los Angeles, and stop occupying the military in our city,” said Martín Manteca, director of external organizing for Local 721 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the organizers of the Run Against ICE.

"We ask local police not to help ICE. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be citizens are on the streets fighting for immigrants, exercising our civil rights, and fighting against the federal government."

Manteca clarified that the Run Against ICE is not a race or a competition against ICE.

“Symbolically, we are chasing them away from Los Angeles, and exercising our right to ask them to leave; we want to tell the migrant population not to be afraid.”

Many of the runners and marchers were children of immigrants from different parts of Latin America. Some marched on bicycles, others on roller skates. Many carried flags from their home countries, some mixing them with the American flag to make a single banner.

Friends Karen Radia and Delia Almedia, daughters of Mexican immigrant parents, got together to run in the Race Against ICE.

“I went running to protest the way they're treating immigrants, arresting them just for the color of their skin,” says Karla.

Delia adds that running is the least she can do for her fellow immigrants, and she wants to tell ICE that what they're doing by violently separating families is wrong.

For her, her participation in the Race Against ICE has a lot of symbolism because her parents traveled many thousands to get to Los Angeles when they immigrated to this country from Mexico.

"My heart is broken by everything that's happening. It's inhumane!" she says.

Jazmín Serrato, a high school teacher, arrived with her Mexican flag to the event, and when we asked her how she responded to criticism from those like her who carry other countries' flags to protests against immigration raids, she says she doesn't care.

'I was raised by my Mexican grandparents, and they taught me to be proud of my culture and heritage. My grandfather fought for the United States in the Cold War, and another uncle fought in Afghanistan. My parents and I were born here. So it doesn't matter to her that she doesn't like my Mexican flag because my family has also given everything for this country."

Jazmín, who is a resident of the San Fernando Valley,She says she loves running and couldn't miss the Race Against ICE.

“I want to help my community, especially my students, who are children of immigrants, so they can see that by participating in these events, we can make a difference.”

Jennifer Rodríguez arrived wrapped in her Mexican flag and even with her hair tied in a bow made of ribbons in the colors of Mexico's national flag.

"We are part of a group of runners who participate in marathons. We are first-generation children of immigrants, and we are supporting the cause because we don't want ICE in Los Angeles or in California."

Jennifer says that what makes Los Angeles beautiful is the diversity of its people and its immigrants.

“I carry the Mexican flag because, as the daughter of immigrants, I am very proud of my roots; and because we should not forget that California used to be Mexico.”

When Lilian Rafael, Jacqueline Díaz, and Mordoqueo Pastor, all three from Guatemala, learned about the Race Against ICE, they didn't hesitate to sign up.

"We did it because we are very tired and affected by everything that is happening. We have a lot of family members who are going through uncomfortable and sad moments. What we want is for them to stop separating families. No more kidnappings!" they said almost in unison.

On the verge of tears, very distressed, María González acknowledged her mixed feelings of sadness and anger.

"I have undocumented grandparents, friends, and family. My grandmother is from El Salvador, my father from Zacatecas. They came here for a better life, not to live what we are going through now. So I want to tell ICE, fuck you! For being inhumane."

Angie, a mother of Peruvian origin married to a Brazilian immigrant, went out for the run with her 12-year-old daughter Micaela and her six-year-old son Maceo, born in Los Angeles.

"My husband and I are immigrants, and right now are moments of community, of unity, and of expressing disagreement. The president has to go! He's done! We need change! There are so many injustices. People are afraid to go out and be outside their homes. We deserve a better future. What's happening is horrible," says this mother.

The Race Against ICE is one of many events planned as part of the Summer of Resistance, a 30-day campaign in Los Angeles.

Reverand Ray Wang, who is also a community organizer on the West Side of Los Angeles, shouted from the bed of a truck before starting the Race Against ICE: No more! They will not defeat us! “They will not divide us and we will be united as one!”

To applause, he told the runners that they are metaphorically running to get ICE out of Los Angeles.