LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington is home to an estimated 1,300 Congolese people, and many of them gathered Saturday in the downtown area to spread awareness about what’s happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Elisha Mutayongwa, the Marifiki Center’s director, and Karema Bwerevu organized the rally.

Millions have been displaced and killed because of years of violence.

Words like "overlooked" and "forgotten" have been used to describe the decades-long conflict that has occurred in Congo.

During a few moments of silence, several attendees held up a hand signal that represents the violence Congolese people face and the silence that accompanies it. Karema Bwerevu was among one of the attendees to hold up the hand gesture. (Spectrum News 1/Geraldine Torrellas)

“We just want to emphasize what’s going on in the Congo, but mainly on the silence the international community is showing to the world on what’s going on in the Congo,” said Serge Kanyonga, who is from Congo and attended the rally.

Almost seven million people are internally displaced, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration. This is the highest number on record for the country.

“War has a tremendous effect in our lives,” Mutayongwa said. “I can see, even all the people that are here, they have a tremendous story of the journey of life they went through because of what has been going on forever.”

People at the rally had the opportunity to share their stories, thoughts and hopes to bring awareness to Lexington residents about an issue that has affected many lives.

“Our community is big here ... how can we just put them together for one cause and be like, ‘We’re just going to hold a sign in town and raise awareness,’” Mutayongwa said.

The Marifiki Center is raising money to support refugee families from Congo and is accepting donations through its PayPal page.