Dear Friends,
“Being part of the non-violent civil disobedience on Tuesday, August 7 was one of the holiest things I have ever done. Never before have I had such a crystallized opportunity to be an instrument of justice. Not an analyst. Not a persuader. Not an organizer. Not a leader. Not a follower. Just an instrument. What a gift. What a blessing. What grace.”
-Rabbi Deb Kolodny
This summer, IMIrJ members and partners throughout the state, “instruments of justice,” helped secure the release of over 100 asylum-seekers inhumanely detained at a federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon. As instruments we bear witness, listen, and act to address the challenges of today. And indeed, the challenges of today are many.
As we write, an exodus of people from Central America have arrived at the border, public charge threatens the wellbeing of immigrants, white nationalists are emboldened by anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies from our nation’s highest office, and ICE continues to prey on people at Oregon’s courthouses.
But if this past year has taught us anything, it’s that we don’t have to face these challenges alone—and that work for justice can be life-giving, spirit-filled.
We look back on 2018 with gratitude, recalling precious moments when we lived into what our world might be. Take a look below and see photos on our website of our “Top 10 Heart Moments from 2018”
We look ahead to 2019 with hope. Here’s what we’ll be paying attention to at IMIrJ:
● the prophetic voices and visions of immigrants in our congregations and communities, who are leading the way in campaigns to secure driver’s licenses for all and universal legal representation for individuals facing deportation.
● sparks of light in faith communities outside the I-5 corridor, where emerging leaders are doing the long-haul work of engaging fellow parishioners and neighbors in tough conversations about racial justice and immigration.
● opportunities to experience the richness of one another’s faith traditions in ways that allow us to go deeper into our own traditions—through the sharing and re-imagination of sacred stories, texts, rituals and songs that steep our work with added meaning and connection.
● relationships, relationships, relationships...at the center of all we do. From the faith-based activist who’s been involved for 30 years to the newcomer who’s been involved for 30 minutes, the immigration lawyer to the state legislator, a strong woven fabric that will last beyond any singular campaign, election, or flashpoint.
What will you pay attention to in 2019? What relationships will you nurture? What fires will you tend?
We hope that our growing IMIrJ community and the broader movement for immigrant justice will land somewhere on your heart list. We invite you to invest in IMIrJ, to invest in our community by becoming a monthly sustainer and steward of our work.
Will you become a monthly donor? If you’re already a monthly sustainer, will you consider increasing your monthly contribution for 2019?
Your sustained support will ensure that our new director, Alaide Vilchis Ibarra will have the flexibility and runway to live intentionally into her new role. It will allow us to live into the call to courage, to act guided by our shared values, not by a funder’s shifting priorities or the fear of failure. It will ensure that we can respond to the increased requests for accompaniment of immigrants to ICE check-ins and court appointments. It will guide us in faith as we seek to embody what it means to build communities of inclusion and sanctuary everywhere.
2018 was a big year for IMIrJ. We look forward to continued partnership in 2019.
Yours in faith,
Sarah & Ron
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Top 10 Heart Moments from 2018
(See Accompanying Photos & Videos Here)
- Meeting in Eugene for the first time with a newly assembled statewide advisory team-- allowing the energy and spirit to guide us as we asked, “what’s the game changer?” “what’s the big thing?” “If faith communities did x, then y would happen”...and a first statewide campaign that would become ICE out of NORCOR began marinating.
- ICE vigils arising from the depths of our traditions-- Buddhist mindful walks, a Passover Seder and Sukkot, and countless prayers and songs sung circling the Washington County courthouse.
- Gathering in The Dalles for our first statewide action on the one-year commemoration of the first hunger strike led by immigrants detained at NORCOR. Tyler Beane Kelly was slated to share a story as part of the clergy visitation team. Instead he shared a song he wrote the night before: “No, Nay, Never...No, Nay, Never, No More. Won’t forget our siblings...let’s get ICE out of NORCOR!”
- A metamorphosis from a quarterly faith leader lunch to a clergy ready bench-- filled with creativity, the power to rapidly respond, collective discernment and strategizing, and willingness to engage the question, “If not now, when?” Perhaps before realizing this question would lead to ten powerful actions and thirty arrests for civil disobedience.
- Eating homemade birthday cakes and singing birthday songs in multiple languages, celebrating life and life’s milestones, across language, race and culture, with Belinda and Wendi and other dear friends that we’ve met and had the privilege of accompanying in this shared journey.
- When Christians moved Sunday morning service to Sheridan to confront the misuse of their scriptures by Attorney General Jeff Sessions-- reminding him that “only love fulfills the law.” Out of the depths of their tradition, the Sikh community offered prayers and langar, a community meal for all after the service. Friendship and curry…(and a dozen pizzas delivered because 700 people showed up) while huddled in the shade made for a fitting end to the day.
- When Alaide e-mailed us to say, YES!
- Holding sanctuary in the streets on August 30th. Twenty-two faith leaders with their hands zip-tied behind their backs waiting to be processed in ICE’s garage and realizing the acoustics in the space would make for some good singing….”May the circle be unbroken…”
- Anonymous individuals detained in Sheridan becoming friends as we met face to face at press conferences, actions, and celebrations upon their release. Returning to the park outside of Sheridan to kickoff a historic 7-day pilgrimage march to NORCOR and seeing a rainbow appear, stretching straight from the prison walls up over the prison fence.
- Our Oregon community standing up for Sanctuary with the overwhelming defeat of Measure 105!
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