The Spring Valley community held a vigil Friday to mark the eighth anniversary of the earthquake that rocked Haiti and killed more than 200,000 people.

Looming over the event, however, were the president's disparaging remarks about that Caribbean nation and African countries.

"If President (Donald) Trump was in front of me, I would say, 'You know what? Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me and my brothers and sisters an opportunity to reunite," said Renold Julien, of the Konbit Ned Lakay Community Center.

After the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in 2010, Spring Valley welcomed thousands of refugees.

At the vigil, community members said prayers, lit candles and observed a moment of silence.

Rep. Nita Lowey attended the vigil, and she told residents that she planned to fight the president's goal to end temporary protected status for displaced Haitian immigrants.