MA Governor Says No to ICE S-Comm at Action Joined by First Parish Cambridge UU & Others!

From Susan Leslie-Pritchard, Social Justice Council, First Parish Cambridge UU

What a weekend! On Sunday, First Parish Cambridge Unitarian Universalist held our second annual Standing on the Side of Love Day worship service. Our minister, Rev. Fred Small, invited leaders of the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM) to share their stories in the pulpit. Our Immigration Task Force gave SIM a courageous love award for their tireless advocacy for the DREAM Act, their round-the-clock weeks-long vigil that defeated anti-immigrant state legislation, and their loving support and leadership of their community. The Task Force had sponsored SIM at an event at the congregation earlier in the year and has been working with them as part of a larger coalition for immigrant rights.

Four of the students shared their stories of how their families had come to this country without documents when they were just young children. Their stories varied from—escaping a country caught between the violence of a guerilla movement and the military, to fleeing poverty, to a woman going to aid a sister in the U.S. who had lost a husband and child, and needed to bring her children with her to do so. They also spoke of their community’s struggles in this country to be able to pay for college without in-state tuition and to be able to get a job without a social security number. Immigration Task Force Chair Linda Cundiff said to the student leaders: “While the DREAM Act did not pass this year, you did not fail. You have moved us and many others to accompany you in your next steps as you work to keep our state from signing on to the Secure Communities ICE program that spreads fear and divides communities. We will advocate with you for in-state tuition for immigrant students. We will stand on the side of love with you and thank you for standing on the side of love so courageously!”

The congregation gave a long standing ovation to SIM. Following the service, congregants went out on to the front steps of the church located in the heart of Harvard Square and holding our Standing on the Side of Love banner, sang “Stand’ by Rev. Amy Webb. This was followed by a reception where we gathered 150 signatures on cards and petitions for delivery to Gov. Deval Patrick at an event on Monday urging him to keep Massachusetts out of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Secure Communities program known as S-Comm that is leading to more detentions and deportations and tearing apart immigrant families.

Monday: Rev. Fred Small and a group of UU leaders from First Parish Cambridge and Follen Church in Lexington along with UUA staff joined the Student Immigrant Movement and other immigrant rights supporters at an event organized by Centro Presente to deliver over 1,000 cards to the Governor opposing S-Comm. Rev. Fred Small said in his remarks, “We are here this morning to stand on the side of love with immigrant families and students and workers. We are here to pray and to sing and to petition our governor not to participate in evil. Because whatever its intention, the ill-named Secure Communities program causes evil. It creates a climate of fear. It divides communities. It does not make them more secure. The only secure community is the Beloved Community: the Beloved Community of love and justice of Dr. King’s dream and ours.” He also read in English and in Spanish the prayer written by UUA President Rev. Peter Morales for National Standing on the Side of Love Day.”

Following the rally, participants walked up the stairs to the Governor’s Office and asked for a meeting. After hours of chanting, singing, and praying, the Governor met with a delegation of immigrant rights and faith leaders. Governor Patrick agreed that he will not sign Massachusetts on to Secure Communities at this time, and will hold a series of community meetings around the state to hear people’s concerns. The governor said: “I don’t think that asking our local law enforcement to enforce a federal law is the best use of our time, they have a lot of other things to do as it is.” The coalition which includes Centro Presente and Standing on the Side of Love are meeting this week to plan next steps.