Clayton residents gathered on Sunday for a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The protest is one of many that have broken out across the country since the start of the year, after ICE and Border Patrol agents killed two people during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
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Sunday's was just the second rally in three weeks organized by activist group Indivisible Johnston County.
"I find the people I talk to feel like somebody has to listen to me," said Mary Blank, a protester. That's what you heard today."
One by one, demonstrators climbed a ladder to voice their "why" for showing up to the protest, along with signs in hand and frustration in their hearts.
"I don't want this to be the country that I live in," one protester said.
Among those protesting was Kathy Kennedy, who told WRAL News her daughter is living in Minneapolis.
"It's just beyond my wildest imagination that this could occur in the United States of America," Kennedy said. "I'm angry [and] I'm saddened. I think I've run all the gauntlets of emotion."
ICE agents killed Renee Good on Jan. 7. Two weeks later, on Jan. 21, Border Patrol agents shot Alex Pretti. In both instances, Trump administration officials branded the two as domestic terrorists, though multiple videos of both shootings appeared to dispute the administration's claims about Good and Pretti.
In the days since Pretti's death, investigators ruled his death a homicide, and President Donald Trump shook up leadership in the Minneapolis operation. Border Patrol's Greg Bovino was replaced by Border Czar Tom Homan, and hundreds of agents were ordered out of the city, with Trump saying they could use a "softer touch" on enforcement.
Clayton residents at the protest, however, believe the damage is already beyond repair.
"We need to do better," said Bob Kennedy, another protester. "We must do better."
"I don't expect miracles, I expect little steps forward," Blank said. "As long as we're moving forward, that's all we can do."
WRAL News reached out to ICE, which did not immediately respond for comment.