On the evening of August 4
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Christ Our Light Parish in Cherry Hill, NJ, hosted a
multi-faith Action for Social Justice. About 10 Sisters of Saint Joseph and several Associates attended, voicing their concern about the inhuman conditions at our southern border, particularly its effect on the children.
I would like to share some highlights of the event:
Immigration Attorney Luis Canales, once undocumented himself, presented the shoes he wore as he walked alone from Honduras at age16. He said, “Please let me know of events like this, where I might be able to attend and listen to the moving stories of others. I was pumped with energy last night and I look forward to doing a lot more work for my immigrant families.”
Social Worker and Therapist Mickey Steinitiz expressed concern about the labeling of immigrant children suffering psychic trauma from separation anxiety over parental immigration status, as ADHD. This mislabeling may lead to medication whose long term effects are unknown.
Catholic Priest Father Gerard Marable said, “What worries me personally is the rebirth of the white power movement. Don’t forget they see themselves as the ‘Christian Knights of the KU Klux Klan,’ good Christian people.' I’m afraid we’ve only seen the beginning of this. Will there be Catholics willing to die fighting them?”
Rabbi Jennifer began by saying, “Last year I said I was honored to be invited to speak at the Vigil held June 24
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, 2018 to rally against the separation of families at the border. Why am I here again?”
Let us continue to raise our voices to end detention of immigrant children and speak out against inhumane treatment of our immigrant brothers and sisters.