For immediate release //
Media Advisory for December 21st 2016
Contact: The Rev. Francisco Garcia, fgarcia608@gmail.com; Guillermo Torres, gtorres@gmail.com; Armando Carmona, 323-250-3018; armando@ndlon.org;
Interfaith Leaders Commit to Provide Sanctuary for immigrants; Urge Government, Community, and Other Faith Leaders to Join Effort
Los Angeles, CA– On Wednesday morning, December 21st interfaith leaders from across Los Angeles will gather to publicly announce their commitment to provide sanctuary for immigrants and to urge other political, community and faith leaders to join in the effort. “As people of faith and conscience, we stand together and proclaim that Los Angeles will be a place of sanctuary for all” said Reverend Francisco Garcia. “We will gather for a prayerful call to resistance, as heads of multiple faith traditions to express our commitments of solidarity with the immigrant community.”
The focus of the press conference is to urge government, community, and other faith institutions to provide sanctuary for immigrant/refugee families and support all who are targeted by hateful rhetoric, actions, laws or policies. While the new administration entering the country’s executive office aims to criminalize and marginalize the immigrant family, members of the interfaith community urge resistance and action in support of “any member of the human family.”
Many faith communities have also begun to take a stance on offering sanctuary to the undocumented community and others that have become targets of hate in the wake of the presidential election.
WHAT: Press Conference announcing interfaith posada and call for “Sanctuary For All” and “No to the Criminalization of the Immigrant Family!
WHO: Bi Jon Bruno, Episcopal Diocese of L.A.; Rev. Linda Culbertson, General Presbyter, Presbytery of the Pacific; Bi Guy Erwin, the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); Rabbi Jonathan Klein, ED, CLUE; Rev. Walter Contreras, National Latino Evangelical Coalition; other faith and community leaders.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 21st 2016 10:00am
WHERE: The Episcopal Cathedral Center of St. Paul
840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, at its annual convention on December 2-3, declared itself a “Sanctuary Diocese,” committing itself to “holy resistance” in the face of hateful and discriminatory plans by the new Trump administration to deport millions of undocumented persons, to eliminate programs like DAPA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and other programs providing relief and protection for hundreds of thousands of our immigrant community. To see the entire resolution, click here.
In this press conference, community leaders will announce an Interfaith Posada convened for Thursday, December 22, 6:00pm. Community members will gather the following day at La Plaza United Methodist Church (115 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012) and end Outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center, (535 Alameda St., Los Angeles, 90012).
As we follow the story of Christmas this time of year — where Joseph and Mary journeyed as migrant refugees seeking shelter as they awaited the birth of their son, the Christ child — we will walk together in prayer and solidarity across faith traditions, standing against attempts of the new presidential administration to target, vilify and criminalize members of our immigrant family. All our great faith traditions look to God for refuge and sanctuary, and call upon followers to practice the Golden Rule, to welcome the refugee, the stranger in our midst. We will stand together to demand that all immigrants, and all people, regardless of convictions and background, be protected by the city and county of Los Angeles. Our records do not define us or our communities.
Convening organizations: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and the National Day Labor Organizing Network (NLDON)
Sponsoring organizations: The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Jovenes, Inc., the Latino/Latina Roundtable, the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and others.
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