Thread: March caps effort for immigrant rights

March caps effort for immigrant rights
The groups held fast to their Lenten vow of raising awareness of issues in U.S. policy.
April 23, 2011|By Samantha Henry, Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. - Advocacy groups observed Good Friday with a protest march that concluded a six-week Lenten campaign to raise awareness of immigrant rights issues.

About 60 members of faith-based organizations, immigrant rights groups, and immigrant families gathered at the Hall of Records and marched through the city to a church.

Along the way, they conducted a Way of the Cross ceremony with prayers that likened Jesus' suffering to the modern-day struggles of immigrants.

"Jesus suffered and died because he spoke out for justice," said the Rev. Joyce Antila Phipps, a pastor at Old First Church in Bound Brook and head of the immigrant-rights group Casa Esperanza. "Our lord was somebody who stood up for everybody, no matter where they came from."

Friday's event marked the conclusion of a statewide campaign called "Lament, Compassion, Solidarity, and Conversion" that organizers said was meant to focus on "recognizing the human value of immigrants."

It featured six weeks of events aimed at bringing to notice what the groups see as problems in U.S. immigration policy. They want to push for policies that focus on keeping immigrant families intact.

The campaign began on Ash Wednesday in March, with participants walking more than 10 miles from Liberty State Park to the Elizabeth Detention Center.

The groups, including Pax Christi, Casa Esperanza, Wind of the Spirit, and the United Day Laborers of Passaic, have also been objecting to plans for an immigrant-detention facility that will likely be built in Essex County. They contend that the federal immigration detention system is inhumane and disruptive to families.

A service agreement for the facility has not been finalized, but Essex County officials have proposed expanding the existing county jail to accommodate additional immigrant detainees. The facility already houses some immigration detainees at a per-bed rate of $105 per day, said a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Participants in Friday's event held signs that said "Do not throw Jesus to jail" and "You were an immigrant, too," as people marched and sang.

Kathy O'Leary, the New Jersey coordinator for Pax Christi and an organizer of Friday's event, said she took inspiration from the Easter story and from Jesus' example to help society's marginalized.

"We are called as people of faith to recognize the suffering of Jesus in the faces of our brothers and sisters and our neighbors," she said.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-23/n ... nforcement

"Sounds like they are running out of excuses!"

what the hell right do you Hav e we are American &we don't Have any
right you the hell do you think are
did you right in Mexico I don't think so. so who the hell do you think you are
you all are just . free bee In my book
right my ass
why all the American should March to the Wh every Sb state
& show the wh that we are not going to satnd for this S// any more > you Illegal Immigrants want a fight you have one
Yes we have right we are Amercan citizen More then I can say for you
your right LoL
No amnesty