Sunday – Standing with Immigrant Families

This is the fifth and final blog in a series chronicling the adventures of the Standing on the Side of Love Campaign in San Diego between Thursday, February 25th and Sunday, February 28th. This blog is written by Daniel Stracka, founder of Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education (UURISE), a non-profit agency dedicated to justice for immigrants and refugees and chair of the San Diego County Unitarian Universalist Network (SUUN), a cluster organization.

Our immigration laws are creating chaos and fear in the lives of immigrants and citizens. Our current members of Congress must look deep into that well of wisdom, which Stephen Shick suggests our founders of the United States of America had done by crafting dreams of democracy out of chaos. Elected officials must change the immigration laws that break families and break hearts, and stand on the side of love with immigrant families.

This standing on the side of love and walking the talk of justice can be exhausting but oh so satisfying! I am proud of having participated in the Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families Public Witness Rally in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform at the Federal Building in San Diego.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube of First UU Church of San Diego offered an opening prayer in which he invoked the inherent worth and dignity of each person. Rev Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, drew the distinction between immigration as a legal issue and a moral issue. He reminded us that throughout our history there have been laws that, while legal, were immoral. I hear a call!

Bishop Brenda Evans Cooper of Christ Chapel World Ministry provided an interfaith perspective that none of us and no immigrant should give up hope in a quest for freedom. I realized that interfaith does not mean we all believe alike, but we can all join in upholding the right of all persons, regardless of place of birth, to freedom.

A litany was presented by UU ministers, Rev Kathleen Green and Rev David Miller, to which the crowd responded “I stand on the side of love.” The power of public response was transforming for me. It reminded me that I am not in this alone and that together we do make a difference.

Enrique Morones, founder of Border Angels, called on all of us as citizens of the world to recognize that those seeking refuge in the United States of America are human beings and should be treated humanely regardless of the route their journey as taken them. I am emboldened by his passion for human rights, not as an ideal, but as a practice. Border Angels provides water and clothing for migrants in the desert. Over 4000 people have died since 1994. The image of one woman, Leticia, who died in the arms of her 15 year old son while crossing through the desert will not leave me.

Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson of Palormar UU Fellowship provided a closing prayer in which she invoked that love and compassion should be our guide, and that sometimes breaking a law while standing for love is a result of unjust laws.

I have been transformed by the events over four days of witness in San Diego. What I hold most in my heart is a five year old U.S. citizen child, who well could have been the child of Jorge, the man whom Adam, Kathy, Dick, Mar, Michanne, and I met at the border in Mexico, who came up to me and with all the courage she could muster, looked me directly in the eyes and asked “When will you bring my papa home?” I am standing on the side of love for this child and all the immigrant families who are broken by our broken immigration laws.
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We were entertained by Greg Brown and Dave Ploeser of North Crust Blue-geois Band, and by singer/song writer Chris Hassett, who wrote a song, “A Strange Kind of Gratitude” for the occasion. See the lyrics at www.chrishassett.com.
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Join the National March for America in Washington, D.C. on March 21st. More information here.