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Holy Week Pilgrimage for Immigrants

By anton | Published: March 27, 2012

HOLY WEEK PILGRIMAGE FOR IMMIGRANTS 2012

www.pilgrimageforimmigrants.wordpress.com

The Holy Week Pilgrimage for Immigrants is an act of faith, solidarity, and hospitality; it is a prayer with feet.  With our feet we pray that our faith communities and nation will search for ways that favor a spirit of solidarity with and justice for immigrants.  We walk by a faith that transcends borders and bids us to overcome all forms of discrimination and violence so that we may build relationships that are just and loving.

Lead Co-organizers: PJ Edwards (770.312.7718 / pilgrimage@travelerstogether.org) and Anton Flores-Maisonet (706-302-9661 / anton@alternacommunity.com)

THE ROUTE 

Sunday, April 1 (GAINESVILLE – up to 14 miles)

  • Start: Assemble at 9 am at Georgia Mountains Center parking lot, Gainesville
  • End: by 4 pm
  • This will be an open pilgrimage where we plan to walk through the heart of Gainesville’s immigrant community, stopping for conversations, and the offering and receiving of hospitality.
  • Contact: Anton Flores-Maisonet (706-302-9661 / anton@alternacommunity.com)

Monday, April 2 (CHAMBLEE – 3 miles)

  • Start: Mass at 9:15 am; Pilgrimage at 10:15 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 3773 Chamblee Tucker Road,  Atlanta
  • End: Pilgrimage ends approximately 11:45 am at Open Table Community Church, 2605 Chamblee Tucker Road, Chamblee
  • Post-pilgrimage: Prayer and lunch to follow at Open Table Community Church
  • Contact: Carmen Graciaa (CGraciaa@ihmschool.org)

Tuesday, April 3 (Downtown Atlanta – 12 miles)

  • Start: 8:45 am assemble at Nipponzan Myohoji Atlanta Dojo, 1127 Glenwood Avenue, Atlanta; 9 am pilgrimage begins
  • End: 4 pm at Georgia State University
  • Post-pilgrimage: GSU Law School forum on immigration detention
  • Contact: Anton Flores-Maisonet (706-302-9661 / anton@alternacommunity.com)

Wednesday, April 4 (BUFORD HIGHWAY, Atlanta – 3 miles)

  • Start: 12:30 pm assemble at Plaza Fiesta parking lot, 4166 Buford Highway, Atlanta; 1 pm pilgrimage begins
  • End: 3 pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2855 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta
  • Contacts: Nancy Sestak (nsestak@mindspring.com) and Estela Flores (estelamarinaflores@hotmail.com)

Wednesday, April 4 (CARTERSVILLE – 4 miles)

  • Start:  3:30 pm assemble at Douglas Street United Methodist Church, 219 Douglas Street, Cartersville; 4 pm pilgrimage begins
  • End: 6 pm at Saint Francis Catholic Church, 850 Douthit Ferry Road, Cartersville
  • Post-pilgrimage: At St. Francis there will be a footwashing, a meal, t-shirt sales, and, possibly, testimonies.
  • Contacts: Rev. Angela Gilreath-Rivers (770-606-4948 / agrivers@gmail.com) and Wendy Ormeroid (770-382-4549 x. 16 / 770-547-8830 / Wendy.Ormeroid@st-francis-cartersville.org)

Holy Thursday, April 5 (Smyrna-Marietta – 8 miles)

  • Start: 9:15 am assemble at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4300 King Springs Road, Smyrna 30082; 10 am pilgrimage begins
  • End: 3 pm at Marietta town square
  • Post-pilgrimage: Footwashing and ceremony at Marietta town square (transportation back to St. Thomas will be available)
  • Contacts: PJ Edwards (770.312.7718 / pilgrimage@travelerstogether.org) and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (770.432.8579) 

Good Friday, April 6 (Atlanta)

  • Participants of the Holy Week Pilgrimage for Immigrants are invited to participate in Catholic Charities’ Good Friday Pilgrimage
  • Begins at 9 am at the Georgia State Capitol and ends at 1 pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center.

2012 PEREGRINACION POR LOS INMIGRANTES DE SEMANA SANTA

www.pilgrimageforimmigrants.wordpress.com 

La Peregrinación por los Inmigrantes es un acto de fe, solidaridad, y hospitalidad; es una oración con los pies.  Con los pies oramos para que nuestras comunidades de fe y nuestra nación busquen maneras a favor de un espíritu de solidaridad y justicia para los inmigrantes. Caminamos con una fe que trasciende fronteras y nos llama a superar todas las formas de violencia y discriminación para que podamos establecer relaciones en justicia y amor.

Organizador: Anton Flores-Maisonet (706-302-9661 / anton@alternacommunity.com)

LA RUTA 

Domingo de ramos, 1 abril (GAINESVILLE – hasta 14 millas)

  • Comienzo: Reunión a las 9 am en el estacionamiento del Georgia Mountains Center, Gainesville
  • Termina a las 4 pm
  • Este camino será una peregrinación abierta donde planeamos pasar por el centro de la comunidad inmigrante de Gainesville, parando para conversar, y ofrecer y recibir hospitalidad.
    • Contacto: Anton Flores-Maisonet (706-302-9661 / anton@alternacommunity.com)

Lunes, 2 abril (CHAMBLEE- 3 millas)

  • Comienzo: Misa a las 9:15 am; Peregrinación a las 10:15 am en Holy Cross Catholic Church, 3773 Chamblee Tucker Road,  Atlanta
  • Termina a las 11:45 am en Open Table Community Church, 2605 Chamblee Tucker Road, Chamblee
  • Después de la peregrinación: Oración y almuerzo en Open Table Community Church
    • Contacto: Carmen Gracia (CGraciaa@ihmschool.org)

Martes, 3 abril (CENTRO DE ATLANTA- 12 millas)

  • Comienzo: 8:45 am nos reuniremos en Nipponzan Myohoji Atlanta Dojo, 1127 Glenwood Avenue, Atlanta; la peregrinación comienza a las 9 am.
  • Termina a las 4 pm en Georgia State University
  • Después de la peregrinación: GSU Law School foro de detención de los inmigrantes
    • Contacto: Anton Flores-Maisonet (706-302-9661 / anton@alternacommunity.com)

Miércoles, 4 abril (BUFORD HIGHWAY- 3 millas)

  • Comienzo: 12:30 pm, nos reuniremos en Plaza Fiesta parking lot, 4166 Buford Highway, Atlanta; la peregrinación comienza a la 1 pm
  • Termina a las 3 pm en Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2855 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta
    • Contacto: Estela Flores (estelamarinaflores@hotmail.com)

Miércoles, 4 abril (CARTERSVILLE- 4 millas)

  • Comienzo:  3:30 pm , nos reuniremos en Douglas Street United Methodist Church, 219 Douglas Street, Cartersville; la peregrinación comienza a las 4 pm
  • Termina a las 6 pm en Saint Francis Catholic Church, 850 Douthit Ferry Road, Cartersville
    • Después de la peregrinación: lavatorio de pies, comida, venta de camisetas, y testimonios en St. Francis
    • Contactos: Rev. Angela Gilreath-Rivers (770-606-4948 / agrivers@gmail.com) y Wendy Ormeroid (770-382-4549 x. 16 / 770-547-8830 / Wendy.Ormeroid@st-francis-cartersville.org) 

Jueves Santo, 5 abril (SMYRNA-MARIETTA – 8 millas)

  • Comienzo: 9:15 am, nos reuniremos en St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4300 King Springs Road, Smyrna 30082; la peregrinación comienza a las 10 am.
  • Termina a las 3 pm en Marietta town square
  • Después de la peregrinación: lavatorio de pies y ceremonia en Marietta town square (Transportación de regreso a St. Thomas estará disponible)
    • Contacto: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (770.432.8579)

Viernes Santo, 6 abril (ATLANTA)

  • Participantes de la Peregrinación por los Inmigrantes de Semana Santa están invitados a participar en  la peregrinación de viernes Santo de Catholic Charities
  • Comienza a las 9 am en el Georgia State Capitol y termina a la 1 pm en el centro de Martin Luther King, Jr.
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A visit from Mary: An Advent experience

By anton | Published: December 23, 2011

Written by Debbie Gish, a social worker. member of Church of the Sojourners in San Francisco, and friend of Alterna.

On Wednesday several of us attended a posada at the Sonoma North County Detention Center (CA). Las Posadas are a Mexican Advent tradition where family, friends and neighbors reenact the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph as they go from house to house seeking shelter, singing a call-and-response song of petition and then of rejection. When someone finally lets them in, Mary, Joseph, friends and family sing with joy and celebrate with food, drink and a piñata.

North County Detention Center

On Wednesday the story told in front of the detention center had a modern day twist. The pilgrims were undocumented immigrants seeking permission to work and live in this country from I.C.E., Congress and finally from “The House of Justice” who welcomed them in. It was particularly moving standing in front of the non-descript buildings housing hundreds of detainees, buildings that looked more like a UPS warehouse than a jail. Although everyone’s story is complicated, for many of those held inside their only crime is crossing a man-made line in the sand to look for work on the other side with the hope of sending money back home to family members. I found the experience very moving. At the end of the service we had a “moment of noise” instead of “moment of silence” to let those inside know they are not forgotten.

Last night I had another even more moving experience. While I was putting Annalise down for bed, the doorbell rang. Dale came looking for me because the woman only spoke Spanish. She was a 20-something, neatly dressed woman selling some of her own gold jewelry. It seemed like an odd time and place to be selling such things, so I inquired further about the story. She had recently hired a “Coyote” to bring her 6-year-old son to the States to reunite with her. He was coming from southern Mexico. She had just gotten word that was now in Phoenix, but that the “Coyote” was holding him there until she paid his fee in full. The story came out slowly and matter-of-factly at first, but then came tumbling out as did her desperation to gather the money. She didn’t need much, but what she needed she needed now. Was this story true? Was this just a hoax? I’ve lived in the city long enough to know people will say many things to get a buck to support one habit or another. But I’ve also lived in the city long enough to become a skeptic and too suspicious of others’ needs. But I share this neighborhood with hundreds, thousands of Latin American immigrants and heard hundreds of similar stories throughout my 25 years here. I’ve heard worse, much worse, about those who don’t make it across, those who die or are abused or disappear in the process of trying. If this story wasn’t true, someone else’s was.

As I handed her some money I asked if I could pray for her and then I asked her name. She said Maria. I now wonder what her son’s name is.

I’m often skeptical of people who claim they are “receiving angels” when they are nice to strangers. I often chalk it up to a romantic notion of ministry and want to challenge folks to love the “guy down the hall” or in their own family who is often more difficult to love than the stranger. But I actually do feel like an angel showed up at my front door last night. And when I looked up the Hebrews passage, the one that reads, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it,” I was surprised to read the verse that followed, “3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.” (Hebrews 13:3) It made me think our Posada experience at the Detention Center and this visit from Mary, I mean Maria, may have been related.

May Emmanuel, God-with-us, provide a place of welcome to all who journey in desperation and need this Christmas and beyond. May we learn to be people of open doors and hearts and hands now and always.

 

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The gift of simplicity

By anton | Published: July 16, 2011

Even before I was born, the gods of consumerism were setting traps to ensnare me in their grips.  Once my parents announced that they were expecting me, their firstborn, the culturally scripted expectation was that the young couple would be showered with more gifts than expected.  As their newborn baby, I would “need” clothing for every season and occasion, toys and trinkets, buggies and burping blankets, disposable diapers and even more disposable diapers.  If my parents did as most parents do today and opt to know the child’s gender beforehand, then consumerism is sanctified under the guise of “nesting” as funds are expended to decorate a room in the marketed and socialized official colors of pink or blue.

But what does God deem necessary when a child is born?  Consider the birth of Jesus, God’s firstborn.  Did the Christ child have a new crib in a room freshly painted with hues of blues and faux-finished stars adorning the ceiling?  Of course not, the blue that welcomed Jesus to our pre-franchised world was the blue of the night sky and there was nothing faux about the stars hanging above the manger.

Well, perhaps there was a baby shower thrown in honor of Mary’s newborn babe.  After all, there were some Wise Men who did come bearing gifts!  Not so fast…

First, scholars suspect that the Magi did not visit the Christ child at his birth but later, perhaps when he was a toddler or even slightly older.  Second, the gifts weren’t exactly leisurely luxuries or status symbols.  It is more probable that the gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh were likely the “currency” that the impoverished Holy Family used to fund their refugee flight to the foreign land of Egypt as a means of escaping Herod’s genocidal plan to kill the young King of the Jews.

Family.  Food.  Shelter.  The resources for escaping persecution.  This was enough for God’s own Son but it’s not enough for our newborns and it’s not enough for us today.

Today we live in an era of distortions.  No, we can’t serve God and Money but if we serve God we’ll have money (or is it if we serve Money we’ll have God?).  The American Dream of living at a higher standard of living than our parents has become Gospel but instead of giving us eternal life it entertains us to death.

Ironically, churches today divide over whether or not gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should marry, meanwhile Mammon has the church in her deadly grip and She struggles to breath much less speak out against this curse of unbridled capitalism.  Consider that the divorce rate of heterosexual churchgoers is no different when compared to those outside the walls of the church.  We know that one of the greatest stressors in a marital relationship is finances but we seem unwilling or unable to reflect on how possessed by our possessions Christians are today and how it is true, “’til debt do us part.”

We speak of sexual lust and implore that believers abstain from the distorted messages of pornography, but is not the lust of the flesh more than a distorted sexuality?  What if most of television was viewed as a promulgator of lust, that insatiable desire for something unattainable?  For example, what if television commercials, those deviously contrived 30-seconds of temptation designed to arouse us and want, no, lust after the false promise that the product being pimped could actually fill a void in our blistered soul.

It is time for the church of Post-Christian America to repent from its affair with Mammon.  God is merciful and the church is never beyond redemption.  Imagine the powerful testimony that even a single denomination, no, a single congregation, no, a single Christ-following family can make when they accept God’s gift of simplicity and the radical hospitality that comes with a life that has renewed priorities as it pertains to time, talents, and treasure.

Tithing 10%?  Please, don’t set the bar so low when the community of Christ is called to demonstrate a radical generosity and commitment to one another so as to ensure that no one is with need.  Of course, this level of simplicity and generosity also requires turning from rugged individualism and finding others who will embrace a lifestyle of living as a biblical, beloved community of oneness marked by deepening interdependence.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
‘Til by turning, turning we come round right

 

 

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Who’s important to CCA?

By anton | Published: July 15, 2011

“You are important…..to CCA”. As we approach the entrance to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, the first signs we see are brightly lettered installations declaring how important we are to the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).

There is a chilling irony in this cheery welcome. In a for-profit prison that holds 2,000 immigrant men on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, there are motivational posters scattered across the entrance walls. Corporate declarations of how important quality work and ‘customer service’ are to CCA. In the midst of barbed wire fences, gun bearing guards, and family members waiting for their 60 minute, glass-mediated visit with a loved one, these polished statements seem darkly laughable and out of place.

Exactly who is important to CCA? CCA is one of the central players in the corporate prison industry and in the last decade, immigration detention has brought this corporate giant back from the brink of insolvency. With regular reports of poor conditions and abuse inside these detention centers, it is clear that the immigrants being held by CCA and other corrections corporations have become a commodity to profit from rather than vulnerable individuals seeking a better life for their families.

Our visit to Stewart Detention center was our first stop on a week-long learning trip facilitated by Anton Flores-Maisonet of the Alterna. Alterna has been monitoring and protesting the Stewart Detention Center for a number of years and now runs a hospitality house near the prison where families can stay while visiting loved ones detained within.

As part of our visit, we had the opportunity to visit men in Stewart whose family members could not come visit in person. We also had the chance to meet Emily Guzman and her son Logan as they waited for yet another bond hearing for Emily’s husband Pedro.

Pedro’s story is a tragic example of the injustice being wrought by the American government, not only against newcomers to this nation, but also against its own citizens. Pedro was brought to this country without documentation by his mother when he was 8 years old. The very short version of his story is that a couple of years ago his mother was deported and unbeknownst to him, his immigration status was tied to her status. By this time, Pedro was married to an American citizen, they had a son and he was working here with appropriate visa documentation. When his mother was deported, the government sent him a notice requiring him to appear in court,

but they sent it to the wrong address. When he missed his court date, they sent him a notice of deportation, again to the wrong address. Soon ICE officers were banging down their door, and eventually Pedro was arrested and the Guzman family’s long separation began.

We were honoured to journey alongside Emily and Logan even just for a day. As we waited for Pedro’s bond hearing to begin, watched as Emily was informed that his hearing had been delayed (even though Emily had driven from North Carolina for this event), we caught a glimpse of the torturous and infuriating life they now live. Emily has shown great resilience and resourcefulness and has become a fiery advocate for immigrant rights (see www.logansdad.com for more of their story) but there is no question that this has taken a devastating toll on their family.

I don’t believe that many Americans are aware of the many issues surrounding the immigration detention industry – or that such an industry even exists. Are we aware that corporate executives from companies like CCA are responsible for crafting anti-immigrant bills such as SB1070 in Arizona in order to ensure continued profits?

Our group was inspired by the many Christians (and others!) we met in Georgia who are resisting the dehumanization of the immigration system and who echo Moses’ cry: “Let my people go!”. Our collective challenge is to find our own place in this work – as we seek to love the stranger and sojourner in our land.

Written by Tamara Shantz, former campus pastor at Goshen College (IN). In March, Shantz traveled to Georgia with students from GC to learn about immigration issues.

 

 

 

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Eight arrested at Stewart Detention Center

By anton | Published: July 14, 2011

By Emily Guzman, U.S. citizen & wife of Pedro Guzman who was detained at SDC from November 2009 until May 2011. This is a reflection on the November 2010 vigil where eight individuals, including Emily’s mother and three members of Alterna were charged with criminal trespass for an act of civil disobedience.

FOR MORE INFO SEE WWW.LOGANSDAD.ORG.

 

 

The morning of our planned vigil this past November, Anton and I went to meet with the Stewart County Sheriff.  We wanted to talk to him about the civil disobedience we were planning.  When I shared Pedro’s story with him, he was shocked Pedro had been detained for 14 months by then. He said that the facility was supposed to keep people for 60-90 days.  We explained that we intended to do a prayer walk around the detention center but on its property.  There would be no resisting of arrest and no property damage.  It would be a nonviolent showing of solidarity and protest against injustice. We also had an opportunity to speak with the county’s judge.  He was also shocked at Pedro’s case. Both the Sheriff and Judge were compassionate and felt sorry for the situation.  I felt good that we were straight forward with them.

We arrived at the town square in Lumpkin and people were already starting to arrive. Approximately 100 people gathered.  As people spoke of the injustices of the current immigration system and then songs were sung of a world with justice where all human beings are treated with respect, I cried. So many people were there that also believed that something is wrong with the current way people are treated. I looked around at the friendly and concerned faces.

We then began the 2 mile processional to Stewart Detention Center. Giant puppetistas, signs with Pedro and Logan’s picture, people with t-shirts saying “Bring Pedro Home”, banners, and kind hearted men, women and children filled the street.  We  started walking, chanting the names of those who have died in immigration detention centers throughout the US. After the more than 100 people’s names were called and the crowd replied “Presente,” Logan was offered a place on Anton’s shoulders and a megaphone.  Logan began to chant “Bring Daddy Home” “Bring Daddy Home”. As the crowd heard our 4 year old little boy making this heartfelt plea, they repeated his words. I thought, “How empowering for  Logan to hear the support of 100 people affirming the reunification of his family!”  He and the crowd chanted until he was satisfied.

My mother suddenly appeared beside me and said, “Emily, what if I do it? What if I cross the line?” As tears rolled down my face, I replied, “Really Mom? You would do that?”  I could not have made it through this year without her love and support but I never thought she would be willing to take such a strong stand.  My mother is not a rule breaker.  She is a kind, honest, loving, compassionate woman but most of all she is a law abiding citizen.  I knew then that she was serious and she wanted to do everything in her power to see our family reunited. As I continued to cry, I hugged her. “I love you, Mom.” We continued the march, our arms around each other.  We rounded the corner and Stewart Detention Center came into view.  Many police officers, CCA guards, and other men in suits were on the other side of a barrier. I could feel the tension rising.

We stopped at the barricaded entrance, from there more words of solidarity and facts about the immigration system were given. Musicians sang songs of justice. Then I spoke of the pain this situation has caused my family.  I spoke of the Stewart Detention Center and the injustices that are happening in the immigration system right now. I spoke of the Corrections Corporation of America taking advantage of the local, rural African-American community members as underpaid employees and immigrants that are brought to the detention center by force.  As I looked up at the crowd, I saw that others were shedding tears along with me. They understood.  They heard me.  They felt my pain. I felt strength and energy from their empathy.

Anton then asked that those willing to participate in this act of civil disobedience come forward. Christin and Bryan Babcock, Anna Fisher, Mary Beth Gamba, Ellen McGill, and Jules Orkin joined Anton. My mom came over to me and hugged Logan and me and told us that she loved us.  She approached the circle of the seven others that had chosen to stand up for our family and all the other immigrants that have been unjustly treated.  I caught eyes with Christin who I had just met the night before.  I began to cry.  I looked at her and thought “There are people that will sacrifice their freedom for the freedom of others.  There are people fighting for justice.  I am not alone.” She saw my tears and began to cry too. The circle of eight people prayed together.  As they walked towards the line that was guarded by police officers, I approached the microphone and said “My mother and seven courageous people

are crossing a line.  They are crossing a line for justice.”  As they walked towards the police officers, the musicians began to play and everyone began to sing, “We Shall Overcome.”

As my 54 year old mother broke the law intentionally for the first time in her life, along with seven brave people, she was handcuffed.   My mother is so brave.  She would not have done this if she had not witnessed the injustice and suffering we have experienced this past year.  She had promised Logan that she would do everything in her power to bring his daddy home and she has. The eight who crossed the line were escorted, in handcuffs, to the back seats of squad cars.

Hours later we received a phone call that everyone would be released upon payment of a $250 bond per person.   Almost half of the money was donated by the large group that was waiting in vigil outside the Sheriff’s office.  People just pitched in their own money for the “The Stewart 8”.  Amazing.

One by one, they were let go.  I hugged every one of them and thanked them.  Most of these people had never met us before.  They did not know me, Pedro, or Logan. When they heard our story, they chose to risk their own freedom to fight for justice.  They stood up for what they believed in with courage, strength and peace.  They restored my faith in humanity.  I am forever grateful to The Stewart 8.

 

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For such a time as this

By anton | Published: July 13, 2011

In March 2011, House Bill 87, Georgia’s cruel anti-immigrant law was passed by the House and Senate. As the third annual Holy Week Pilgrimage for Immigrants began, the media’s attention was on Georgia and many immigrants, allies, and persons of faith were praying Governor Deal would veto this scapegoating piece of legislation.

As is tradition, the pilgrimage began on Palm Sunday in the North Georgia town of Gainesville. However, this commencement location took on additional meaning this year as this is the hometown of Gov. Deal. Would Deal be like Governor Pilate or would he rule justly?

Organizers of this year’s pilgrimage sensed a greater sense of fear to engage in this prayer with feet.  With the exception of Cobb County where we saw a record turnout of 500 pilgrims, most legs of the pilgrimage saw a significant decrease.  But this pilgrimage has never been about numbers but about a Gospel resistance to the dehumanizing politics of fear that crucify God’s people.  For that reason, this was likely the most important year of the pilgrimage to date and perhaps three years of faithfulness prepared us “for such a time as this.”

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VICTORY!!! Pedro Guzman is free!

By anton | Published: July 12, 2011

Glenn Fogle, the Guzmans’ immigration attorney, explains it this way:

After almost 19 months after being arrested by an ICE “Fugitive Operations Unit” at his home in North Carolina in front of his wife and then 2 year old son, on a removal order he did not even know about, Pedro Guzman has been granted Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (a green card) by Immigration Judge Dan Trimble at Stewart Immigration Court on May 16, 2011. He was released today, May 17, 2011 after the DHS waived appeal. Pedro finally had his day in court after the Board of Immigration Appeals reversed Atlanta Immigration Judge William A. Cassidy, both on bond denial and a removal order where Cassidy found Pedro ineligible for relief. This needlessly resulted in his prolonged 19 month detention and deprived his wife and young son of their husband and father. Pedro’s story has been in national newspapers and is now the subject of a short documentary. This was a very long and hard fought battle and Pedro must be commended for his perseverance in detention while we fought his case.

The Guzmans’ plight was a focus of the November 2010 vigil at the Stewart Detention Center, which included 100 attendees of which eight of those were arrested for civil disobedience (an event organized by Alterna in collaboration with Georgia Detention Watch, SOA Watch, Witness for Peace and others).

Indeed, this case has drawn national attention to the inhumanity of immigration detention.  The Guzmans’ courage and persistence has inspired many, including folks who just months ago knew nothing about the immoral and unjust immigration detention system and its insidious collusion with for-profit prison corporations like Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).  While our sick immigration system scapegoated Pedro and robbed his wife and four year old son of nearly two years of his life, CCA pocketed over $77,000 on this one case and the Stewart County government got its own kickback of approximately $600.

Righteous indignation is merited but not today.  Today is a day to celebrate!  I want to sincerely thank everyone who played any role in the liberation of Pedro.  If you ever attended any vigil at any detention center, you played a role.  If you ever visited someone detained on immigration charges, you played a role.  If you ever financially supported Alterna or any other organization fighting for immigrant justice, you played a role.  If you ever volunteered at El Refugio, Alterna’s hospitality house outside the gates of Stewart Detention Center, you played a role.  And your role is worth celebrating.  And the reunion of Pedro, Emily, and Logan is worth celebrating!

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Time to take crucified immigrants down from the cross

By anton | Published: April 25, 2011

This speech was given as part of the Catholic Charities’ Good Friday Pilgrimage. This pilgrimage is an urban stations of the cross and Anton’s speech was the 13th Station, “Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.” (Special thanks to Jorge Lawton for the phenomenal interpretation.)

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Video collage of Wednesday’s pilgrimage along Buford Highway

By anton | Published: April 22, 2011

Produced by WABE News (Atlanta Public Radio)

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Surely, God is with us in Dalton

By anton | Published: April 22, 2011

100 immigrants, afraid to do pilgrimage in Dalton, conducted a Holy Week Vigil for Immigrants.  Here, America Gruner offers her reflections.

Dalton is a small city but 80% of the carpet of the world is manufactured locally and mainly by the hands of Latino immigrants, and where the headquarters of 3 major carpet corporations are located, resulting in billions of dollars annually in revenue.

It is estimated that Latinos make 50% of Dalton’s population and 30% of Whitfield County’s.    However, we as immigrants are persecuted and in constant grief because of the many detentions resulting from the well orchestrated tactics between politicians-corporations-law enforcement, such as 287g. We feel trapped in the small physical area

Monday April 18, I was at the Coalition of Latino Leaders, CLILA, ready for the Vigil but feeling anxiety (as always) of not knowing if someone would show up because of the fear reigning in our local community, but the night turned into many blessings. One lady came to the vigil so I thought “well, at least the two of us will share our concerns and dreams”. Then a second lady came, then a family of four, and after that many others came, so I had the joy to unfold all the chairs we have to accommodate about 100 people plus about 30 children.

We decided to join Alterna again this year for this Pilgrimage because we’re tired of feeling fearful; we came because we want to feel we did something to change our situation. We didn’t walk physically, but we visited our fears and struggles.

Most of those who came are immigrants, from “el pueblo”, people who don’t speak English, people without academic degrees, but people with wisdom, and with the ability to sustain the local economy, whose hands, back and feet are weary as a result of cutting or sewing carpet, of lifting yarn rolls for more than 70 times a day, of sweating in the dyeing room, of making money for the executives and not for their own children.

All of us in the vigil were immigrants, we are the relatives of detainees, students, mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and we felt the vigil was refreshing water because we shared our feelings, concerns, fears and hopes, our vulnerability allowed us to feel what experts call “community”.

Some shared the uncertainty of the future, and of the present, some walked from home since they are afraid of driving and become one of the many detainees.

After that, we made our liberation an emotional and physical reality by praying with our brushes; all of us, adults and children wrote our feelings and hopes on signs and banners, we showed them to others, we all joined in a collage of faith.

Then we prayed with our voices and hands, we asked our Lord for comfort, protection, justice, guidance, and strength. We prayed for our people in the county jail, for our men in Stewart, for our women in Ocilla, for those who have been already deported, for those who are still here but separated of our loved ones.

Then we lighted candles while we listened to “Himno de Victoria” (Victory’s Hymn) that made us remember that Israel’s people crossed the Red Sea against all odds because God was with them.

So we agreed that with or without HB87 or with or without different circumstances, He’s with us, He has the future in His hands, but we have to do our part and continue actively fighting for justice and dignity.

Pontius Pilate was a governor, who allowed the condemnation of the innocent…

Governor Deal, what are you going to do?

CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES OF THE DALTON VIGIL

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