Updates – Page 24 – Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity

https://www.facebook.com/im4humanintegrity/videos/311937039804016/

“Dear Community: We’d like to offer this prayer to you, in light of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police. Our hearts are broken and heavy…” [read more]

From our executive director, Reverend Deborah Lee: A prayer to affirm our commitment to the sacredness of Black lives, and a call for racial equity and substantive social change where Black lives are treated as sacred, with love, and the upholding of justice.

Read the full text of our prayer here.

In this defining political moment, where the pattern of racial, economic and military violence in this country is laid bare, we invite you to learn, participate and invest in creating a world that truly regards Black lives as sacred.

Art by Jada Wong. Information on how to access free print of graphic below.

LEARN: On May 29th we held a faith-rooted organizing webinar on “Ending Life Without Parole”. Learn what Life Without Parole means and the ways you can participate in bringing this inhumane sentencing to an end.
PARTICIPATE: Our organizers will be sharing and creating ways we can respond locally as an interfaith community to the evolving situation. To learn about ways you can get involved, contact our local organizers:

Bay Area: Gala King | Gking@im4humanintegrity.org
Los Angeles: Reverend Dr. Larry Foy | Lfoy@im4humanintegrity.org
Inland Empire: Hilda Cruz | Hcruz@im4humanintegrity.org

INVEST IN BLACK ORGANIZERS: Black-led organizations and organizers need our financial support. Below are a few ways you can invest in protecting the dignity of Black lives and support the long-term movement.

National Bail Fund:Protest leaders across the country are being targeted for arrest by police. Help bond out local protesters in your community, by using this searchable bond relief website.
Donate to Black Lives Matter: Sustain the Black Lives Matter Movement to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever.
Justice Not Jails: Donate to IM4HI’s Justice Not Jails program. Justice Not Jails meets monthly as faith and community leaders to organize for criminal justice reform, law enforcement accountability and changing the landscape of incarceration in Los Angeles.

How to Receive a Free “Justice for George” Print: For a donation of $10 or more to any of these or other groups, you can receive a Free Print of Justice for George donated by the artist Jada Wong. Send a receipt of your donation of $10 or more to Jada and she will send you a complimentary print. Contact Jada through Instagram @jadawongg, or on FB @Jada Wong.

Ways to Engage This Week:

Join us for two events this week that remember and honor the lives lost by police violence and of COVID-19 while incarcerated. Uplift their memories and participate in change.

#RoseFromConcrete

Friday June 5th | 8am-4pm

Hall of Justice: 211 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Honor the lives that have been lost to police violence and the people that continue suffering inside of LA County jails.

This event is organized by Justice LA. They ask everyone to deliver arose to the steps of the Hall of Justice representing one life taken from our communities at the hands of law enforcements. 12,000 roses, 12,000 cracks.

#HonorLivesLost

Online Candle-Lighting Ritual
Sunday June 7th | 8pm
Join Here: bit.ly/honorliveslost
We are co-hosting an online weekly candle-lighting ritual to uplift incarcerated people we have lost to COVID-19 and #DeathbyIncarceration in California.

#HonorLivesLost is a network of organizers and advocates dedicated to memorializing and uplifting incarcerated people we lose to COVID-19 and #DeathbyIncarceration in California.
Share the Facebook Event

“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.