CHICAGO, IL (WBBM Newsradio) - Faith leaders in Chicago, some long known for their social activism in the community, gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office at 101 W. Ida B Wells Drive to hold a planned 8-hour vigil, which included a group prayer and walk around the building, on the hour each hour.
United Giving Hope Sanctuary Pastor Julie Contreras told reporters that if they’re unable to touch the hearts of the Trump Administration, they will attempt to reach the hearts of men and women serving as ICE agents.
“We know they have discretion.No matter who the president is, that person is not God.”, said Contreras.
Attempting to tap into the connection between those being detained and the individual ICE agents, she points out that all are brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters.
“They all have families. We’re praying that the next time they look in the face of a mother, who has no criminal background, to think as Christ would think, and to not lose their humanity.”, said Contreras.
Father Michael Pfelger, from St. Sabina Church, also joined the vigil, “Our faith reminds us that we have a god that hears the cries of the poor and the hurting, and he answers them. We’re living in a nation right now of intimidation and of persecution…we cannot just be silent, we have to stand up, we have to resist, and we have to fight.”, Pfleger said.
Pastor Contreras also had a message for protestors, who would become violent or otherwise destructive, in the name of undocumented immigrants, “We feel, those of us that are impacted by the reality of being undocumented, that our struggle is being highjacked, it doesn’t represent us.”, she said.
