Where: Central United Methodist, 1875 N. Central Ave.. Phoenix, AZ, 85004
When: Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
What: “Rally for Migrants” gathering and demonstration
Who: Rev. Ken Heintzelman, Pastor of Shadow Rock UCC
Michael Stancliff, organizer at Shadow Rock UCC
Local groups are planning a large gathering and demonstration on Sunday, June 17, 2018. The “Rally for Migrants” aims to lift up the migrant community while denouncing the cruel and inhumane tactics currently used by immigration officials. This event comes at a time when the conditions of migrants in the United States are moving into the public spotlight. Outrage is building as children go missing, asylum seekers at our borders are being denied their rights, and the humanity of our brothers and sisters is being stripped away.
The event begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Pioneer Chapel at Central United Methodist church. There will be prayer, music, testimonies, and fellowship. Then the gathering will move to the ICE Field Office in downtown Phoenix for an active and peaceful demonstration protesting our broken immigration system that is tearing apart families.
Statement from organizers: 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. And ICE does this under the orders of politicians who claim to champion “family values.”
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 heart breaking consequences of our unjust immigration system and the cruel actions of our system’s enforcers.
Read: A family was separated at the border, and this distraught father took his own life