Immigration As Definer of Our Character: In the context of the May 1st Immigrant Rights Marches

Submitted by KetyE on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 14:31

IPC Declaration on Immigration Rights

On May 1st, a day of protest for immigrants rights, the Institute for Progressive Christianity offers the following declaration:

Immigration As Definer of Our Character: In the context of the May 1st Immigrant Rights Marches

On the question of undocumented immigrants the religious left have an important choice: Will we act as fearful xenophobes or as enlightened patriotic people of faith?

I write this declaration confident that a politically dynamic religious left will step forward in defense of the stranger among us.

But what should a religious left approach to immigration in 2008 look like? Let us assume that it will be an active, interfaith political movement. The immigration marches of 2006 helped pave the way for us to imagine that this is possible. Religious institutions joined political groups in the street in support of the undocumented alien and in opposition to harsh xenophobic legislation.

http://www.instituteforprogressivechristianity.org/

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I don't know what it should look like, but

Submitted by KathyO on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 12:29.

I can tell you what it does look like. There is a religious left approach to immigration that did not start in 2008, but it is working very hard on behalf of immigrants and their families and to bring about fair and comprehensive immigration reform. In the NY Metro area there are so many groups these are the couple that I have had some experience with.

The New Sanctuary Movement http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/
IRATE (Interfaith Refugee Action Team - Elizabeth) and First Friends http://www.irateweb.org/
Wind of the Spirit http://www.windofthespirit.net/

Unfortunately just like the peace movement the corporate media does not cover them much.

Updates on the Marches

Submitted by KetyE on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 16:14.

Thanks for your comment Jim.

For those who are interested in learning more or keeping abreast of the marches across the U.S. a few friends are blogging about it. Here are some links from people blogging in Massachussettes, Texas, Illinois and New York.

http://www.citizenorange.com/orange/2008/05/citizen-orange-mobile-live-o...

http://xicanopwr.com/2008/05/may-day-2008/

http://twitter.com/blogdiva

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbe7WjftQTw

http://ofamerica.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/5-reasons-to-march-in-the-immi...

Jim Ramelis's picture

Humane Immigration

Submitted by Jim Ramelis on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 16:01.

People of faith have to support a humane sensible immigration policy that works for all. How can we call ourselves Christians and advocate an immigration policy that seperates mothers from the children or deporting millions of people that have been here for years? We can't.

Yes, secure the borders, we need to do that for safety, environmental, and health reasons.However, we also need a policy that recognizes people's dignity and worth and acknowledge the contributions they have made to our society. Sanity must prevail.

Support the brave people in Los Angeles that are standing up for immigrant rights after last years outrageous police beatings that some of them took.