As an attorney, I usually address civil rights violations in court. For 16 years, I have worked on cases for the Freedom From Religion Foundation to protect constitutional and civil rights. I have participated in demonstrations on just a few occasions. This past Sunday was one of those times.

I live in a Twin Cities suburb, as does most of my extended family. My sister invited me to join a protest on Sunday along a busy street in her city to show support for members of our community and to oppose what ICE is doing to people in our state. I went with my sister and my mom, who I do not recall ever attending such an event before. About 40 people stood on different corners of an intersection, holding signs and facing traffic.

I am the father of two boys, ages 6 and 4. After seeing what happened to 5-year-old Liam Ramos, I felt that I had to start doing something. I had already planned to protest by the time ICE killed another citizen, Alex Pretti, on Saturday. Alex was a registered nurse, just like my wife, who works at a hospital in the Twin Cities. While I went to the protest, my wife spent her Sunday shopping for groceries to be delivered to immigrant families in need. We aren’t doing much, but we are trying to help.

It was zero degrees, so bringing our kids was not an option, nor would it have been advisable for safety reasons. I was glad children were not present, given the behavior of some drivers. My fellow protesters and I were called “f***ing r**ards” by one angry woman. We got the finger from others. We were told to “go home” and to “get a job.” But it was Sunday — and we have jobs.

Two teenagers tried to “roll coal” by blasting truck exhaust on us. They had just a standard truck, so it didn’t really work. I called them “bootlickers” on their second or third drive-by, but the protester next to me had the better response: “Have the day you deserve!”

Despite all of this, I felt hope. I stood near an elementary school teacher and shared that my school district had emailed families a few days ago to inform us that ICE had been at two schools in the district.

Overall, onlookers were overwhelmingly positive, with the ratio of positive to negative responses around 20 to 1. Families honked, waved and gave us thumbs up. More than once, I assumed an approaching driver would flip us off, only to be surprised by encouragement instead.

A woman stopped and delivered a comically large number of hot chocolates. Another person dropped off coffee. Protesters shared hand warmers, whistles, signs and snacks. One person tried to hand us a $100 bill and a fellow protester replied on behalf of us, “Give it to someone in need.”

The only time religion came up was when a supporter driving by said, “Seek justice. Isaiah 1:17.” As an atheist, I don’t need biblical inspiration or moral guidance from religion. But some people do.

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

I’ll allow it.

Minnesotans are giving me hope. Protecting civil rights is not dependent on government officials, legislatures or courts. Everyday people are showing up, standing together and speaking out. And that matters.