As immigrant communities await an appeals court hearing on President Obama’s deportation relief programs later this month (April 17 th) and as Easter and Passover approach, local religious leaders performed sacred Rituals of Foot-Washing to address the ongoing fear and discrimination which ongoing deportation operations have wrought for immigrant families.
The public action, took place in front of ICE, urging the agency to “open its heart” and turn away from harsh separation of families.
“The ritual of footwashing symbolizes the respect and genuine hospitality we are to have towards those who come to our country. We, the native born, are to display humility and servanthood towards the immigrant,” said Father Don McKinnon, a Redemptorist priest.
“During the eight days of Jewish Passover, the Jewish community re-tell the story of forced migration across a great desert in search of freedom. Our religious tradition teaches us to afford migrants in our midst the same legal rights of residency as the citizen,” said Rabbi Lynn Gottleib. “This year, we ask the US government to stop deporting and detaining immigrants in accord with these religious values.”
WATCH TV MEDIA COVERAGE FROM TODAY’S FOOTWASHING/PASSOVER
English: KTVU Channel 2
Spanish: Telemundo Channel 48 (with in depth interviews)
Spanish: Univisioannel 14
PHOTOS & QUOTES FROM THE FOOTWASHING/PASSOVER EVENT
She is in deportation proceedings seeking protection and currently must wear a GPS ankle monitoring device.
going 9 years without seeing my children, has been even harder.”
traditional Jewish Passover elements of matzah, charoset and maror.
“Detention is violence. Deportation is violence. Getting fired from your job is violence.
We are for freedom from all forms of violence.” – Rabbi Lynn
We are all human beings.”
“Footwashing is a sacrament of love which tears down the barriers of privilege, hierarchy and separation- and uniting us.”- Rev. Maria Eitz, Sophia Trinity
