“Mr. Ahn would wake up early every morning and watch the news. Whenever I go by his bunk area he would give me pastries and snacks. And when I see him or call out to him, he would give me the peace sign. Being one of the few who was exempt from the hunger strike, Mr Ahn still wanted to participate and refused to go to “chow”. This is why ICE is cold and heartless. Mr. Ahn should have been on top of their list for release.” –Charles Joseph, friend who was formerly detained with Mr. Ahn at Mesa Verde
On Thursday, May 28th at noon, faith leaders and community groups held a public memorial in front of the SF ICE building to hold ICE responsible for the death of Choung Woong Ahn, a 74 year-old man who died in ICE custody at the Mesa Verde Detention Facility.
Mr. Ahn had been held at Mesa Verde since February and suffered from diabetes, hypertension and heart & respiratory conditions. His case was a clear example of a medically vulnerable individual who was denied their right to life by ICE and GEO. The preliminary cause of death was suicide, though the case is currently under investigation by ICE.
ICE refused to release Mr. Ahn, based on prior convictions, even though Mr. Ahn had already earned early release. Faith leaders and community groups are demanding that ICE and GEO which operates Mesa Verde, be held accountable for the death of Mr. Ahn, and that ICE release more people before other deaths occur.
Join us to honor the life of Mr. Ahn and the values of Redemption, Restoration and Release. Help us uplift the need to #FreeThemAll in order to save thousands of lives at risk in detention.
When there is a crisis, people that are already pushed to the margins feel the effects tenfold.
The transition to the United States is difficult for refugees and asylum seekers who are escaping dangerous situations to resettle and build a safe new life for themselves and their families. The COVID-19 pandemic is only exacerbating the already thin safety net of transitional support.
“Housing is tenuous, work is tenuous, securing food is tenuous for people who are newcomers. We knew when the crisis hit the population at large, that meant this community would be hit even harder. This community does not have reserves. This is not a matter of living check to check or week to week. For the people we work with, it is day to day.”
Rev. Deborah Lee is the executive director of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, where she has been on staff since 2009. She was first compelled to join this work when, as a youth minister, she saw how immigration policy was harming young people and separating families. Working at the intersection of spirituality and social movements, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity mobilizes congregations to take a stand on issues of social justice like immigration and mass incarceration. It brings communities of faith together with people on the front lines who are targeted and excluded to form a beloved community. Together, they determine the actions to make sure people can thrive and that human dignity is being elevated.
Victor Aguilar and Hugo Aguilar, released detainees, embrace in front of the detention center. Rev. Deborah Lee, background, celebrates with them. (Richmond, CA, 2018)
In the last five years the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity has supported over seventy asylum-seeking families in their transitions. Now, in the pandemic, the organization is finding ways to help people survive even as resources are hard to come by. The San Francisco Foundation provided a $10,000 grant that has helped activate volunteers to do virtual accompaniment, helping newcomers navigate services and resources in a way that is safe for new families and for the volunteers, connecting through email, phone calls, WhatsApp and texting.
There are many lists of resources in circulation, but for a newcomer, questions arise trying in to navigate them— from questions simple as, is this address near me? am I eligible?— to determining if filling out the form will put the person in danger. The virtual accompaniment provides navigation support for resources in the near-term, and for determining what long term support looks like.
In addition to service navigation, the personal connection helps create a network of moral support. Often times refugees and asylum seekers are not only carrying the weight of loss of income that they are experiencing here, but are sources of remittances and survival for family back home. It is another layer of stress on top of the current stretched circumstances.
“Immigration can feel remote for people that have not experienced it,” Rev. Lee explained. “We try to make it real by creating moments where people meet each other and where people that have firsthand experience can be respected and heard.” Every month Interfaith Movement holds a prayer vigil in front of ICE in downtown San Francisco (currently happening virtually) during which people who have lived experience with the immigration system can share their stories. Recently, someone who just won release from immigration detention shared his experience of losing a year of life in detention and facing the risk of dying of COVID-19 in the facility.
“What keeps me going is the love and connections with people, survivors of these policies of institutional racism. Their resilience, courage and spirit is food for the soul.”
Advocacy work is a core part of this, Rev. Lee explained. It is not a choice. As policymakers are already making decisions about what the Bay Area, state and beyond will look post-COVID-19, they are advocating to have people at the table that are most impacted by the crisis and policies to help create the solutions.
“We were here before COVID we will be here after COVID. We are part of the civil society and will continue to advocate for human dignity and human rights. We know it may be someone else excluded next time, so how do we keep pushing for policy that aligns with our values of inclusion and equity. How can we keep pushing the needle forward towards deeper understanding?”
San Francisco Interfaith Council Online Briefing for Faith Leaders: “Addressing COVID-19 Hate Speech Targeted at Asian People” May 21, 2020
On May 21, the San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC), in collaboration with the SF Department of Emergency Management’s (DEM) Community Branch, hosted the seventh in a weekly series of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) response briefings for faith leaders. Today’s briefing featured Chinese for Affirmative Action Co-Executive Director Cynthia Choi who addressed the issue of “COVID-19” hate speech targeted at Asian people both globally and here in our region.
The briefing may be viewed in its entirety by clicking the link below:
Rev. Deborah Lee speaking at May 21, 2020 interfaith briefing
Also participating were Zoom Briefing Moderator/SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas, SFIC Board Secretary Nancy Nielsen, Buddhist Church of San Francisco Minister Assistant Rev. Elaine Donlin, Islamic Networks Group (ING) Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi, Jewish Community Relations Council Executive Director Tyler Gregory, and Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Executive Director Rev. Deborah Lee [introduced at 52:00]. Special appreciation is extended to the DEM technology team, comprised of Community Branch Coordinator John McKnight and Engagement Leads Krysten Laine, Russell Allen, Kelly Gaherty, Karen Nemsick, and Sharon Walton.
