Pastoral Call from Co-Executive Director Joey Lopez
“…they left for their own country by another road.” Matthew 2:12
Just as the magi left for their own country by another road, we too must choose our own paths of non-compliance with US Empire. As people of faith, particularly those of us of the Christian tradition, we must push back against the efforts by this regime to defile the core tenant of our faith, to love God and love neighbor:
On Saturday morning, I woke up about at 3:00 AM AST (about 11:00 PM Friday PST) to the news of US military aggression against Venezuela. My partner and I were visiting family in Puerto Rico, and we had an early morning flight home. Just a little over an hour later, we were leaving the airport because our flight had been canceled. Later we learned that the airspace over the Caribbean had been closed to US airlines and flights.
Two days later, the Department of Homeland Security started a tweet with “NO ROOM AT THE INN!” in response to a hotel canceling the reservations of immigration enforcement agents.
Two days later, an ICE officer fires 3 shots at point blank range, murdering Renee Nicole Good.
Yesterday afternoon, CBP agents fired shots and injured two migrants in Portland.
Amidst all of this, our Somali neighbors are being targeted and harassed, and our state continues to share drivers’ information with federal immigration enforcement.
The list of egregious acts by this administration go far beyond what’s happened this week. We have reached a critical moment where we cannot let this continue. Our faiths dictate a moral imperative to support and care for one another, upholding the dignity and worthiness of migrants as vital members of our communities. The prayers of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts are not enough. To truly fulfill our moral imperative, we must take concrete action to resist, not comply, and refuse to normalize the degradation of our faith and our nation.
As people around the nation are responding this weekend, the Church Council encourages you to join one of the actions listed below. Please consider your level of risk as you engage in various ways, and honor the boundaries of the groups you participate with.
January 11 Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training (Church Council), 2-5 PM
January 10 & 11 ICE Out for Good (Indivisible) Check the link periodically for local events this weekend
January 10 Solidarity Day at the NW Detention Center (La Resistencia), 1-3 PM
January 10 Report Back! Seattle activists return from international delegation to Venezuela, rally to follow. (Seattle Against War), 1-3 PM
January 10 Chevron No Occupation of Venezuela, No Occupation of Our Cities
Seattle/Shoreline, 2-4 PM
Renton, 11 AM – 1 PM
January 10 Abolish ICE: Justice for Good (Defund Musk)
University Village, 10-12 PM
Lynnwood, 12-2 PM
Renton, 10-12 PM
Tacoma, 10-12 PM
In solidarity,
Joey Lopez (he/him)
Co-Executive Director