Rally and prayer vigil to honor lost children
Mrs. L. and her child were separated by immigration authorities for four months. Photo courtesy ACLU
PHOENIX — The “Rally for Migrants” on Sunday, June 17, 2018, will lift up the migrant community while denouncing the cruel and inhumane tactics, including the separation of children from parents, being used today by immigration officials.
“The government has gone too far when we have terrified children who don’t know when they’ll feel the warmth and love of their parents again,” said Petra Falcon, executive director of Promise Arizona.
“This demonstration comes as the conditions for migrants in the United States are rapidly deteriorating,” said Ken Heintzelman, senior minister at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ in Phoenix. “Community outrage is building because children have gone missing, asylum seekers at our borders are being denied their rights, and the humanity of our brothers and sisters is being stripped away.”
- WHO: Local clergy and community leaderS
- WHAT: “Rally for Migrants”
- WHEN: Sunday, June 17, 2018, 6:00 p.m.
- WHERE: Central United Methodist, 1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85004
The rally begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Pioneer Chapel at Central United Methodist Church. There will be a prayer vigil, music, testimonies and fellowship. The gathering will move to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in downtown Phoenix immediately after the church gathering for a peaceful protest against the abuses of our broken immigration system.
“Immigrants have sacrificed the separation of family to live their dreams for too long, and now our lack of leadership in this country is forcing children to live a nightmare,” said Falcon, who is the mother of five and grandmother of six.
Heintzelman added, “We should be supporting families not deporting them. However you define a family, we know that strong families make strong communities. On this Father’s Day, we stand with families, educators, first responders, clergy, child welfare workers, child and family therapists, who deal with the heartbreaking consequences of our unjust immigration system and the cruel actions of our system’s enforcers.
“Our friends and neighbors are facing increasingly aggressive and punitive actions from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Individuals are being told to show up for court dates to argue their case, and upon arrival are being immediately deported. Family members of activists are being harassed and targeted. Even children are being used as pressure points to fulfill ICE’s unjust mission,” said Heintzelman. “And ICE does this under the orders of politicians who claim to champion family values?”