My First Mother’s Day Vigil at the Detention Center • Mi Primer Día de las Madres en Vigilia en el Centro de Detención
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by Peach Jack
Originally posted in the Seattle First Baptist Church e-newsletter, The Spire - June 2015
“Si, Se Puede”; Yes, It Is Possible
On Saturday, May 9th, less than 100 people gathered under tents outside the NW Detention Center in Tacoma. We gathered to hear stories and to be a presence to those who are detained, and to say “enough is enough” to the 34K nation-wide nightly bed requirement set by ICE: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Our group represented a diverse people of faith and spirit, sanctuary supporters, and the immigrant justice community who showed up offering love and support, saying “si, se puede”, yes, it is possible to make a difference, to offer hope in the face of despair.
I went to be a presence and to continue my journey of discovery and bearing the responsibility of one “who has the privilege and a voice” to tell the stories I hear. I went as a mother and friend to show solidarity with other mothers and friends, fathers, sisters, brothers and kids. I went to hear stories and to learn what other people of faith are doing in the face of a tragic situation across our continent, with our neighbors to the South. I went because family is important to me.
What I saw and heard reminded me of parenting my own kids. I have heard and I believe that parents, no matter who they are, love their children to the best of their ability and resources. Surely there are situations when parents are not up to the job of providing for and supporting their children. But reading letters to us from mothers on the inside who have risked all to make a better life—including leaving children behind or caring for other people’s children when their parents could not—these stories ring true. Having to prove to authorities a ‘credible fear’ seems absurd, knowing that parents fear for even lesser hazards than these daily realities they have known. I know because I still hope for a future for my children and for theirs.
What I saw and heard reminded me of the people who supported me in my parenting, including the families in my community and abroad, who took in my kids when I needed help. What I saw and heard reminded me of the women I met when I worked in social services, often hearing about the sacrifices they made in order to find a better life—a life I often took for granted. What I saw and heard reminded me of the stories of my immigrant grandparents, who left home because of war and conscription and religious persecution. What I saw and heard reminded me that I know a God who loves justice and calls me to be the hands and feet and eyes and ears and voice for those who are not free to act. What I saw and heard asks me to walk in solidarity with those who have no choice. What I saw and heard reminds me that the Kingdom of God “disrupts and speaks of a greater power, a greater authority for Jubilee, freedom and forgiveness. In the words of the movement(1), “Si, Se Puede”—yes, it is possible. It is possible for us to offer blessing and walk beside them as they grow in faith. Let us gather our hearts for prayer.
Other thoughts: Anthropologist and author, Bruce Feiler writes on the exile of the people of Israel to Babylon and how it strengthened them as a people of faith. To those who had formerly found their identity as a people around the temple worship, they came to identify with each other in experience and truth—that God is with them everywhere. This event actually resulted in great blessing to the Jewish nation, as they grew in numbers and in intellectual capacity—and eventual prosperity. They are a people with a common narrative of adversity, identity and monotheism. Without being tied to place, their faith was able to grow and their religion to survive and give them strength against a common enemy. (197-198, Where God Was Born.)
I am reminded of this thought as I read the stories and letters from the detained. Many of them tell of a renewed faith in God, when they were left without any help from others. “People are crying out” inside the detention center, according to a formerly detained woman, L. Garcia. They have left families, suffered great persecutions and hurts, have gone without health care and even food and water upon capture. Children on the outside suffer greatly as well, though their natural response is to protect their incarcerated parent and not disclose. They do not want the parent to suffer more knowing what grief they have caused. Communities and extended families suffer because of the additional burdens on the outside, offering bond, paying off the coyotes, caring for the estranged children, living on lesser resources due to incarcerated, unemployed adults. They are asking all of us, “please make a difference.”
The cost to taxpayers for the 34K beds is approximately $130-150 a day, paid to private companies, part of an empire whose profitability is the priority.
Originally posted in the Seattle First Baptist Church e-newsletter, The Spire - June 2015
“Si, Se Puede”; Yes, It Is Possible
On Saturday, May 9th, less than 100 people gathered under tents outside the NW Detention Center in Tacoma. We gathered to hear stories and to be a presence to those who are detained, and to say “enough is enough” to the 34K nation-wide nightly bed requirement set by ICE: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Our group represented a diverse people of faith and spirit, sanctuary supporters, and the immigrant justice community who showed up offering love and support, saying “si, se puede”, yes, it is possible to make a difference, to offer hope in the face of despair.
I went to be a presence and to continue my journey of discovery and bearing the responsibility of one “who has the privilege and a voice” to tell the stories I hear. I went as a mother and friend to show solidarity with other mothers and friends, fathers, sisters, brothers and kids. I went to hear stories and to learn what other people of faith are doing in the face of a tragic situation across our continent, with our neighbors to the South. I went because family is important to me.
What I saw and heard reminded me of parenting my own kids. I have heard and I believe that parents, no matter who they are, love their children to the best of their ability and resources. Surely there are situations when parents are not up to the job of providing for and supporting their children. But reading letters to us from mothers on the inside who have risked all to make a better life—including leaving children behind or caring for other people’s children when their parents could not—these stories ring true. Having to prove to authorities a ‘credible fear’ seems absurd, knowing that parents fear for even lesser hazards than these daily realities they have known. I know because I still hope for a future for my children and for theirs.
What I saw and heard reminded me of the people who supported me in my parenting, including the families in my community and abroad, who took in my kids when I needed help. What I saw and heard reminded me of the women I met when I worked in social services, often hearing about the sacrifices they made in order to find a better life—a life I often took for granted. What I saw and heard reminded me of the stories of my immigrant grandparents, who left home because of war and conscription and religious persecution. What I saw and heard reminded me that I know a God who loves justice and calls me to be the hands and feet and eyes and ears and voice for those who are not free to act. What I saw and heard asks me to walk in solidarity with those who have no choice. What I saw and heard reminds me that the Kingdom of God “disrupts and speaks of a greater power, a greater authority for Jubilee, freedom and forgiveness. In the words of the movement(1), “Si, Se Puede”—yes, it is possible. It is possible for us to offer blessing and walk beside them as they grow in faith. Let us gather our hearts for prayer.
Other thoughts: Anthropologist and author, Bruce Feiler writes on the exile of the people of Israel to Babylon and how it strengthened them as a people of faith. To those who had formerly found their identity as a people around the temple worship, they came to identify with each other in experience and truth—that God is with them everywhere. This event actually resulted in great blessing to the Jewish nation, as they grew in numbers and in intellectual capacity—and eventual prosperity. They are a people with a common narrative of adversity, identity and monotheism. Without being tied to place, their faith was able to grow and their religion to survive and give them strength against a common enemy. (197-198, Where God Was Born.)
I am reminded of this thought as I read the stories and letters from the detained. Many of them tell of a renewed faith in God, when they were left without any help from others. “People are crying out” inside the detention center, according to a formerly detained woman, L. Garcia. They have left families, suffered great persecutions and hurts, have gone without health care and even food and water upon capture. Children on the outside suffer greatly as well, though their natural response is to protect their incarcerated parent and not disclose. They do not want the parent to suffer more knowing what grief they have caused. Communities and extended families suffer because of the additional burdens on the outside, offering bond, paying off the coyotes, caring for the estranged children, living on lesser resources due to incarcerated, unemployed adults. They are asking all of us, “please make a difference.”
The cost to taxpayers for the 34K beds is approximately $130-150 a day, paid to private companies, part of an empire whose profitability is the priority.
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por Peach Jack
Publicado originalmente en la gaceta electrónica de la Primera Iglesia Bautista, The Spire – Junio de 2015
“Si, Se Puede”; Sí, Es Posible.
El sábado 9 de mayo, menos de 100 personas se reunieron en tiendas de campaña fuera del centro de detención del Noroeste de Tacoma. Nos reunimos para escuchar historias y ser una presencia para aquellos que están detenidos, y decir "ya basta" a los requisitos para las 34 mil camas en toda la nación establecidos por el ICE: Agencia de Servicios de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas. Nuestro grupo representado por una diversidad de personas de fe y espíritu, partidarios del santuario, y la comunidad de justicia para los inmigrantes que se presentaron para ofrecer amor y apoyo, decimos "si, se puede", sí, es posible hacer una diferencia, para ofrecer esperanza de cara a la desesperación.
Fui a ser una presencia y continuar mi viaje de descubrimiento y teniendo la responsabilidad de “quien tiene el privilegio y una voz" para contar las historias que escucho. Fui como una madre y una amiga para mostrar su solidaridad con otras madres y amigos, padres, hermanas, hermanos y niños. Fui a escuchar historias y aprender lo que otras personas de fe están haciendo para encarar una trágica situación en nuestro continente, con nuestros vecinos del sur. Fui porque la familia es importante para mí.
Lo que vi y oí me recordó a la crianza de mis hijos. He oído y creo que los padres, sin importar quiénes son, aman a sus hijos a la medida de sus posibilidades y recursos. Ciertamente hay situaciones en las que los padres no cumplen su deber de proveer y mantener a sus hijos. Pero leyendo cartas de las madres en el interior, que han arriesgado todo para hacer una mejor vida, incluso dejando a sus hijos atrás o cuidando a los hijos de otras personas cuando sus padres no están -estas historias se escuchan verdaderas. Tener que demostrar a las autoridades un "temor creíble” parece absurdo, sabiendo que los padres temen peligros incluso más pequeños que estas realidades diarias que han conocido. Lo sé porque sigo esperando por un futuro para mis hijos y para los de ellas.
Lo que vi y oí me recordó a las personas que me han apoyado en mi crianza, incluyendo las familias de mi comunidad y en el extranjero, que tomaron a mis hijos cuando necesitaba ayuda. Lo que vi y oí me recordó a las mujeres que conocí cuando trabajaba en los servicios sociales, a menudo oyéndolas hablar de los sacrificios que hicieron con el fin de encontrar una vida mejor, una vida que a menudo se daba por garantizada. Lo que vi y oí me recordó las historias de mis abuelos inmigrantes, que dejaron el hogar debido a la guerra y el reclutamiento y la persecución religiosa. Lo que vi y oí me recordó que yo sé de un Dios que ama la justicia y me llama a ser las manos y los pies, los ojos, los oídos y la voz de los que no son libres de actuar. Lo que vi y oí pide que camine en solidaridad con aquellos que no tienen otra opción. Lo que vi y oí me recuerda que el Reino de Dios irrumpe y habla de un mayor poder, una mayor autoridad para el jubileo, la libertad y el perdón. En las palabras del movimiento (1), "Sí, se puede" Sí, es posible. Es posible que nosotros ofrezcamos bendición y caminemos junto a ellos a medida que crecen en la fe. Juntemos nuestros corazones para la oración.
Otros pensamientos: Antropólogo y autor, Bruce Feiler escribe sobre el exilio del pueblo de Israel a Babilonia y la forma en que los fortaleció como un pueblo de fe. Aquellos que con anterioridad habían encontrado su identidad como pueblo alrededor del culto en el templo, llegaron a identificarse uno al otro en experiencia y verdad -que Dios está con ellos en todas partes. Este evento realmente resultó en una gran bendición para la nación judía, a medida que crecían en número y en capacidad intelectual. Son un pueblo con una historia común de adversidad, identidad y monoteísmo. Sin estar atados a su lugar, su fe fue capaz de crecer, su religión de sobrevivir y darles fuerza contra un enemigo común. (197-198, Donde Nació Dios.)
Me acuerdo de este pensamiento al leer las historias y cartas de los detenidos. Muchos de ellos hablan de una renovada fe en Dios, cuando se quedaron sin la ayuda de otros. "La gente está pidiendo a gritos" en el interior del centro de detención, de acuerdo a una mujer detenida anteriormente, L. García. Ellos han dejado a familias, sufrieron grandes persecuciones y heridas, se han quedado sin cuidados de salud e incluso sin comida y agua después de su captura. Los niños en el exterior sufren mucho también, aunque su respuesta natural es la de proteger a su madre o padre encarcelado y no lo divulgan. Ellos no quieren que los padres sufran más al saber del dolor que han causado. Las comunidades y las familias extendidas sufren a causa de las cargas adicionales en el exterior, ofrecen fianzas, pago de coyotes, cuidado de los niños distanciados, viven de menos recursos debido a los adultos presos, desempleados. Están pidiendo a todos nosotros, "por favor, hagan una diferencia."
El costo para los contribuyentes de las 34 mil camas es de aproximadamente $ 130-150 USD al día, pagados a empresas privadas, parte de un imperio cuya rentabilidad es la prioridad.
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(1) Delores Huerta, women factory workers; and Cesar Chavez, United Farm Workers, and MLK The Exile, Psalm 137 The light of God dawns in the Darkness, Isaiah 60 Jesus on Power, Luke 20
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(1) Dolores Huerta, las trabajadoras de la fábrica; y Cesar Chavez, Unión de Trabajadores Agrícolas, y MLK El Exilio, Salmo 137 la luz de Dios amanece en la oscuridad, Isaías 60 Jesús en el Poder, Lucas 20
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