There were less than 100 who showed up.
Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement president, said more than 600 individuals had already signed the petition addressed to President Obama.
On Tinian, the group’s adviser Manzurul Alam collected more than 100 signatures while 100 signatures were collected from Rota.
The online signature campaign at http://unheardnomore.blogspot.com had 614 signatures as of press time.
The CNMI has about 16,000 guest workers.
The petition is asking Obama to take administrative action in extending parole-in-place protection to legal aliens in the CNMI.
Community members who wish to support the petition may call 888-4025 and ask for Rabby Syed.
Every Saturday, he said, their group will be in the parking area of American Memorial Park to continue to collect signatures.
“We are hoping to get 5,000 signatures by the end of one month,” he said.
Members of different denominations on island attended the prayer vigil which started at 7 p.m. The Joyful Singers of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ 4th Watch performed several Gospel songs.
In his opening remarks, Syed thanked the guest workers and their supporters for their continued quest to achieve improved status.
He said they should need to be patient and united to make “our voices loud.”
Guest worker advocates Ronnie Doca and Jun Concillado thanked members of different churches for joining the prayer vigil.
Former Rep. Tina Sablan and her husband Glenn Hunter participated in the prayer vigil.
Among those who offered prayers were Khandakar Shafikul of the Muslim community, Francisco Gorembalem of the Upperroom Church, Dave Bucher and Laura Kyonka of the Living Hope Church of Nazarene, Millie Caroll of the United Methodist Church and Bambi Muleta of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ.
//


