‘If you have a voice’

Emilio Cordova stood on a truck bed with a microphone in hand and proudly stated, “I’m not just American, I’m Mexican American.”

Born in the U.S., he proudly said, “I get to enjoy what I believe is the greatest country on earth.”

Cordova, a senior at Eastern Regional High School, was at a “No Kings” rally in Berlin Borough on March 28, one of more than 3,300 protests nationwide that drew an estimated 8 million people, according to published reports.

The first “No Kings” rallies were held in about 2,000 communities in June 2025. The Berlin march was sponsored by the Lonaconing Indivisible organization.

Led by Adam Sheridan – a former middle-school English teacher, now union organizer – the newly-formed organization announced its presence with a march from Berlin Borough Hall to a rally at Berlin Park that drew about 1,000 protestors, many holding signs and waving American flags. Some sat in lawn chairs.

“I’m honored to be a member of Lonaconing Indivisible,” Sheridan told the crowd. “We are brand new. We did not exist two months ago. We didn’t have a name until last Thursday. We had a banner (made) in like six hours.

“This is our very first event ever.”

Sheridan’s comments brought applause and cheers from people gathered near the park’s sports field. He asked for a moment of silence for Renée Good, Alex Pretti, Ruben Ray Martinez and the rest of the 47 people who’ve died in ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention since 2025.

Good and Pretti were shot and killed by federal immigration agents during ICE protests in Minneapolis in January. In March, Martinez was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer after a traffic stop in March, according to reports.

“We are here in their memory because they can’t be with us,” Sheridan noted. “So we’re going to stand up for them and we will never forget them.”

Lonaconing Indivisible represents lower Camden County and western Atlantic County.

“We wanted to organize in our community,” he recalled of how the organization formed, adding that members are fighting and making sure “America remains a Democracy.”

‘ … No matter where you come from,” he added, “no matter where you came from, no matter where your people come from, no matter who you love, no matter who you identify as, you are welcome here, because you have friends everywhere.”

Sheridan’s speech was followed by Cordova; Eloy Delgado, a councilman in Union County; and a local priest, Father Ryan Paetzold.

Cordova is president of the Interact Club at Eastern, the school’s largest student service organization, with more than 200 members, according to its website. He and fellow students organized a recent ICE walkout during lunch that drew more than 200 students.

“I recently got to go up to the state legislature and help pass some of the immigration bills,” he added.

Across from Borough Hall, Jordan DeGrezio of Bellmawr stood with family members, holding signs, ahead of the rally.

“I’m out here today because I think it’s important to,” he remarked. “If you have a voice, you have to use it, because not everyone has the opportunity to speak. If you speak, you need to speak for yourself and you need to speak for people that don’t have a voice to speak.”

Her sign – with drawings of eyes – read, “History has its ‘eyes’ on us.”

Gaetana DeGrezia, also a Bellmawr resident, said she attended the rally to support family members in the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community, including her transgender grandson Brie DeGrezio.

“I have granddaughters that are little and they need to grow up safe,” she said, noting that she is affectionately known as “Nanny.”

“Their rights need to be preserved.”

Carol Hannaway of Atco, another family member, was at the rally in support.

“We have to show up,” she urged. “This is what this is all about.”