Over the weekend, Chicago's faith leaders were at the forefront of a prayer march at Naval Station Great Lakes, standing firm against the intensified ICE operations in the area. In what has been described as a call for federal immigration agents to exit the state, demonstrators coming from an array of local faith communities and organizations voiced their concerns. "That we will not be silent, not only will we not be silent, we will not back down," Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson with the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, Illinois, told ABC7 Chicago.
The march, inspired by the biblical tale of Jericho, involved protesters circling the military base's entrance seven times, symbolizing their hope to see an end to what they describe as federal violence and intimidation towards immigrant communities. "The biggest lawbreaker here in the country right now is ICE in the Border Patrol, we give them impunity," Pastor Craig Mousin with Wellington United Church in Christ expressed in a statement captured by ABC7 Chicago. Over the past weeks, tension has escalated as reports of nearly 500 arrests surfaced, underlining what many see as a disturbing trend of targeting Latino communities.
In a display of interfaith solidarity, Saturday's march was backed by nearly a dozen organizations. Participants were seen joining hands and engaging in peaceful protest, with no arrests reported. Demonstrators, such as Pam Shearman, connected their actions with personal narratives, stating, "I come from cultural, cultural family. My grandparents and great-grandparents were immigrants," she shared as part of an interview with ABC7 Chicago. Marchers left with the promise of continued demonstrations, signifying an unwavering stance in their quest for immigrant rights.
Amidst the events, immigrant rights champion Dulce Ortiz, the Executive Director of Mano a Mano, criticized the methods being employed by ICE, detailing accounts of community members feeling unsafe to even participate in routine social affairs. "Who are afraid, who are scared, who are uncertain of whether or not even going to mass is something that could be a risk to them," Father Brendan Curran with the Resurrection Project said, according to a WGN-TV interview. Religious leaders and activist groups emphasized the importance of being informed on one's rights in the face of ICE activities, urging the community to reach out to resources such as the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights' Family Support Network and Hotline for assistance.
The demonstrations served as powerful testament to the resolve of faith communities and allies in the Chicago area, with a unified message of seeking dignity and justice for all, regardless of immigration status. Voices within the protest, like Ethan Aronson of ARISE Chicago, labeled ICE operations as "a religious desecration and it's unholy," as reported by WGN-TV. This event, a collective embodiment of prayer and protest, illustrated the community’s determination to combat practices they view as unjust and un-American.
