Supporters gathered in downtown Lakeport, Calif., on Sunday, October 9, 2011, to protest the arrests two days earlier of Ajai and Isaiah Rodgers and Leandro Guerrero, who are facing sexual assault charges. The three remained in the Lake County Jail on Monday, October 10, 2011. Photo by Amy Collins.

On Sunday, Oct. 9, a support rally was held for the three men accused of allegedly raping a woman.

Approximately 35 family members, friends, old bosses and supporters of the men gathered at the Lake County Museum on Third and Main in Lakeport.

Together they made signs with various slogans: “Free the boys!”, “Lies ruin lives,” “Innocent until proven guilty” and several others were seen.

The rally started at noon and went on until the last few people finally left at 6 p.m.

Several times people driving by would pull over and speak to the rally attendees, and give their blessings. Also, a vast number of people drove by, honked their horn, pumped their fist in the air, or screamed: “They are innocent!” out of their windows.

Upon speaking to the supporters, it was apparent that everyone is worried about negative press turning this entire situation into a huge problem for the men.

I write this as a friend of theirs, but as a community member as well. I know what negative press can do to a person’s reputation in a community as small as ours.

Ajai Rodgers is a sweet soul. I have known him for about nine years. In that time I have watched him grow from a child into a man. I have seen how he treats other people, which is always with kid gloves.

I have never known Ajai to be a violent person. He has always been full of smiles, laughter, love and a whole lot of hugs.

Upon hearing the charges against him, I was sick. Never would Ajai be capable, even in the heat of the moment, to hurt a woman like that. He has had a few girlfriends in the time I have known him, and I have seen the gentle, loving way he treats them.

Isaiah Rodgers is Ajai’s brother and I am sad I am not better acquainted with him. He has been described as a wonderful man, much like Ajai in the way he treats women.

Isaiah has many, many friends in this community who are outraged to hear of the charges against him. In the few times I have met him, I never sensed violence, towards women or anyone else.

Leandro “Lee” Guerrero is a shy man, never the first to make a move. He has always held himself with the decorum of a gentleman around women. He has always been a shoulder to cry on for his female friends, the strong silent type, and protective.

Never, in the eight-plus years I have known him, have I seen him disrespect a woman. It’s not in his nature, he has been taught to respect women.

It was a lesson learned well, as I have seen with my own eyes how he treats his female friends. Lee is not the sort of man to be violent towards any woman, in any circumstance.

I am sure of their innocence, I support them.

I, like their other family and friends, am outraged at these charges. Upon speaking with the parents of the men, I was left feeling so sad.

Just the looks on their faces when they saw all the supporters was enough to make me cry. They walked around, hugged people, thanked them for their participation, cried, hugged more people and so on. It was an emotional day.

I only hope these men will be found innocent. They do not deserve the blame that has been placed on them. I, along with their family and friends will be waiting for the day of victory for them.

Free the boys!

Amy Collins lives in Lakeport, Calif.