Sister Linda Romey, who is in Collegeville, Minnesota, on a two-month writing residency, was among the thousands of persons who participated in the massive "ICE Out of Minnesota" rally in Minneapolis on January 23.
"Three of us drove the 90 miles to Minneapolis to join our voices with so many others who are demanding an end to the cruelty, violence, and injustice being committed in Minnesota," said Sister Linda. "It was an emotional experience. And it became even more emotional when another person was shot and killed on Saturday."
Including the march that took place in -10°F weather, hundreds of businesses chose to shut down, encouraging an economic blackout to protest the actions of ICE. This rally was organized in response to a surge in the presence of ICE agents across the country, particularly in Minnesota.
On January 7th, unarmed Renée Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent shortly after dropping her child off at school. In the week preceding the January 23rd rally, "school officials in the suburb of Columbia Heights announced that four of their students had been detained by ICE, ranging from ages five to 17." On January 24th, unarmed Alex Pretti was fatally shot several times by ICE agents after approaching and recording a nearby detention.
U.S. Bishops state that "Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures. Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together."
Sister Linda is developing her work on the Fifth Kind of Monk during her residency. You can read her most recent post here.
