Community Action for Immigrant and Civil Rights
Click here to see video on what you can do to take action on immigration.
Tuesday, May 12 marks the one-year anniversary of the Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) raid at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Iowa. Nearly 400 people were detained in the raid. The raid has devastated the community, dividing families and leaving many without means of income. St. Bridget’s Catholic Church has taken the lead in support of these families, with support and help from people across the country.
The United Methodist Church has been present since the raid. The Bishop of the Iowa Conference sent a statement of support for a vigil immediately after the raid and UMCOR has provided emergency resources. United Methodist Women will be among those participating in the Postville commemorations on May 12. In addition, United Methodists across the country will be getting involved in their own communities through UMW, Church and Society, Justice for Our Neighbors, and other groups. Check in your conference to see who may already be planning activities.
The faith community in Postville and the national Interfaith Immigration Coalition invite your unit, local church, or ecumenical community to participate in a day of remembrance on May 12. The call is for just immigration reform, just labor practices, family unity, and an end to raids. You are invited to:
- Ring church bells at 10:00am Central Daylight Time, the time the raid began
- Wear a red ribbon the day of the anniversary as a sign of solidarity with those in Postville while engaging people in conversation about the raid and a just immigration policy.
- Hold a prayer vigil and remembrance service in your community. copy of the service to be held in Postville is posted to the web. You have permission to use and adapt this service.
- Read out loud the names of all 389 people who were detained in the raid. Click here to download sketches by Craig Ede of many of the workers who were detained.
- Learn more about the Postville Raid. See “The Postville Raid—A Background” by Interfaith Immigration Coalition for information. Download an 8 minute video clip on Postville by Luis Argueta.
“To refuse to welcome migrants to this country and to stand by in silence while families are separated, individual freedoms are ignored, and the migrant community in the US is demonized…is complicity to sin.” [Welcoming the Migrant to the US, United Methodist General Conference 2008]
If you plan to take action on May 12 for just immigration policy, and to end raids, detentions and deportations, please let us know. We would like to make visible the national presence of United Methodist Women in this action, together with people of faith and community groups across the nation.
- Contact the Community Action Office of United Methodist Women to let us know your plans, large or small. cbarton@gbgm-umc.org; 212-682-3633. The Interfaith Immigration Coalition will help to highlight activities in local and national media and utilize these stories to help educate Congress about the need for just immigration reform.
- Contact your Senators and Representative to let them know what you are doing, and to share your concerns about ending raids, family unity, just labor practices and just immigration reform.
- Contact the local press if you plan a vigil or public action. Take pictures and have someone in your group do a brief write up of your action. Send your write ups and any press coverage to the Community Action office. We will compile these to give national coverage of UMW and UMC involvement in the event.
Women’s Division director Ollie Pleggenkuhle lives close to Postville and has been involved in UMW response to the raid. She comments, “It is hard to believe that people are working under such conditions in this country. The raid has been devastating to families. Some of the women are still wearing ankle bracelets. It is a situation of great urgency. Please get involved on May 12 and beyond, helping to change policies that have created situations like Postville.”
United Methodist Women, Immigrant/Civil Rights Initiative
Contact: Community Action Program
777 UN Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
212-682-3633, cbarton@gbgm-umc.org
umwmission.org
umwonline.org (Immigration Community)
[Community Action note 1, 4-29-09]
See Also:
About the Postville Raid (PDF, 80K)
Ollie Pleggenkuhle interview (AVI, 18MB)