The Unitarian Church of Staten Island that I serve has focused many of its Standing on the Side of Love services on immigration this year—inviting speakers from the Liberian and Sri Lankan communities, and from organizations like El Centro del Inmigrante and Make the Road New York. A central charge of the Staten Island Clergy Leadership group has been to address the alarming rise in anti-immigrant violence fueled by ignorance and fear. So when I learned of the act of civil disobedience planned to encourage the Obama administration to finally make comprehensive reform of immigration policy a top priority I committed myself to a personal act in support of my beliefs.
As 56 of us linked arms and walked into the street to block traffic in front of the Federal Plaza where many immigrants and their families face deportation every day we sang We Shall Overcome. There were taunts from others who opposed our action, but I felt the strong cloud of witnesses to justice in whose line we stood. For me, it was a reaffirmation of my commitment to be a white ally and my calling to the Unitarian Universalist ministry, which was forged in the anti-racism work of our Association. Those of us willing to be arrested were treated well by the police and the judicial system. I know that the many immigrants arrested each day know real fear as families are shattered by immigration and naturalization policies and practices that reinforce a system of “us” and “them”. We risked very little on this one day while immigrants risk being deported, losing their jobs and being treated like criminals every day. Arizona SB 1070 and other bills of this sort will only fuel more violence, racism, distrust and fear.
Members of my congregation individually work tirelessly for legal and social services to immigrants in New York City and Staten Island. They are witnesses to the daily tragedy for immigrants in all the boroughs of New York City.
As a result of my act of civil disobedience and the church reaching out to immigrant communities this year, immigration coalitions are hoping that we will act in solidarity with them to make Staten Island a safer, healthier and more just place to live. I believe we can make a difference if together we stand on the side of love and justice.
http://standing-firm.chttp://standing-firm.com/
Rev. Susan Karlson in the yellow Standing on the Side of love t shirt with the purple stole on the left behind the men in orange shirts.
Participants released the following joint statement concerning today’s civil disobedience action:
“Being conscientiously of opinion that our current immigration laws betray our core principles of democracy, inclusiveness and justice; that they allow for Arizona’s immoral and unconstitutional SB1070; and that their continued enforcement through detention and deportation separates families and destroys communities; we are compelled to escalate our call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the face of inaction from our nation’s elected representatives.
“Today we stand in solidarity with the millions who contribute to our communities and economy while being denied full access to them. Our act of civil disobedience is performed with the belief that our laws can—and should—be better, and that our nation’s leaders cannot stand on the sidelines as our society’s core values are betrayed by a broken and immoral immigration system.
“We invite the enforcement of the law upon ourselves in the hope that our arrest today will be the catalyst for principled leadership from the President and Congress and for meaningful Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will put an end to the arrests and other mistreatments faced by our friends, families, congregations, and communities.”
—Unity Statement Signed by Those Arrested
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