What started as an immigration reform vigil organized through nonprofit organization Centro Campesino turned into a shouting match by three different entities in Albert Lea on Friday on the corner of Broadway Avenue and Fountain Street.

Though the yelling was heated, no arrests were made. Albert Lea police officers stood by through the entirety of the protest, which began at 8 p.m.

One officer could be seen with a video camera taping the events, in case anything got out of hand.

By 10 p.m., most protesters had left the area, though there were a few remaining.

During the vigil, protesters stood on both sides of the Fountain Street. Many cars honked as they came through the area, and some people even shouted out of their windows.

On one side were Centro Campesino supporters, who said they came to Albert Lea as part of the group’s Journey of Hope campaign, which has a goal of keeping the light of immigration reform alive.

They carried signs with phrases such as “No more raids!” “Reunify the families!” and “Residency for All!” along with larger banners. They planted a series of white crosses into the ground and read a few prayers. Young and old alike stood with the group.

In opposition were about a dozen people from the Minnesota Coalition for Immigration Reduction, who carried signs against illegal immigration and the Centro Campesino group, and five people with the National Socialist Movement, who also carried a large banner and a few smaller signs.

Ron Schrader, of Albert Lea, who is with the Minnesota Coalition for Immigration Reduction, was quick to point out that his group is not against legal immigration, just illegal immigration.

“Illegal immigration is going out of control,” Schrader said. “And because of it, our country is going down the tubes economically.”

“What we’re trying to do is get the message out of what’s happening,” said Robert L. King, of Hollandale. “We are not hateful, we are not racist, we are for constitutional law.”

King said if immigrants come into the country legally, through the proper channels, the Minnesota Coalition for Immigration Reduction would support those immigrants.

Sam Johnson, southeast Minnesota unit leader of the National Socialist Movement, who is from Austin, said he thinks the illegal immigration issue needs to be taken care of.

Johnson, whose two sons carried signs of protest as well, said there’s no middle ground when it comes to immigration.

“People have a choice,” he said. “They either need to stand with us or against us.”

Johnson said he participates in protests such as the one in Albert Lea because he is trying to protect his family.

He said if people continue to base their opinion of immigration on partisanship, nothing will ever be solved.

As Centro Campesino supporters gathered in a circle, Johnson and his colleague Robert Hester, of Albert Lea, began shouting phrases such as “Go back home” at the Owatonna-based Centro Campesino group. Members of the Minnesota Coalition for Immigration Reduction periodically also shouted out comments.

At one point Johnson unbuttoned his shirt and another shirt underneath with the National Socialist Movement symbol could be seen. The symbol includes a swastika.

Sophia Ponce, academic advisor for Centro Campesino, said she is frustrated with how the group’s opponents treat them.

“They’re treating us like the enemy when all we’re doing is trying to do the same thing their moms and their dads did,” Ponce said. “We’re just trying to help our community.

“We’re just tired of every time we go to a community, we’re treated like we’re nothing but dirt.”

She said her opponents take their protests to an extreme, where they don’t want to talk about the topic, and instead talk about the individual.

“We’re here to get the government to understand that they need to fix this broken system,” she said.

Ernesto Velez, community organizer for Centro Campesino, said the group received a call Friday morning from an anonymous person who said that the organization was not welcome in Albert Lea.

This is the fifth city that the organization has demonstrated in. Their vigils have caused similar reactions from opponents in other places.

“If Albert Lea citizens think this doesn’t affect them, it does affect them,” Ponce said. “This trickles down to the community.”