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ALLIED
FAITH COMMUNITIES PLEDGE OF SUPPORT & INVOLVEMENT
Moved by our faith to participate in the New Sanctuary
Movement, this faith community commits to the following;
Education
We will educate ourselves about issues facing immigrants in our
society, and about the current status of immigration-related legislation.
We will avail ourselves of resources from the New Sanctuary
Movement, and will welcome the first-hand stories of immigrants
themselves who have experienced injustice.
We will renew our study of the sacred stories of migration and
hospitality, injustice and hope, which already exist in our own
faith tradition.
Seeking also to educate our greater community, we will offer
public forums on immigration.
Advocacy
We understand that education alone brings no change if it does
not lead to action. Therefore,
We will actively and publicly work for comprehensive immigration
reform in the United States.
We call for an immediate moratorium on all raids and unjust deportations
that cause the separation of families, until such time as the
broken system of immigration laws is fixed.
We agree to include our names, our voices and our selves (or
representative members) in public events, various forms of media,
and other appropriate venues.
We will be a compassionate and persistent voice for justice for
our immigrant brothers and sisters.
In
addition, we commit to one or more of the following:
Legal Triage. The need for competent
and free or low-cost legal advice to the immigrant community far
outstrips the capacity of the movements “prophetic hospitality.”
Therefore, faith communities are called upon to host legal clinics,
provide legal referrals and to identify families in need of such
assistance.
Prophetic Hospitality. Faith communities
will "host" a family seeking sanctuary for a period
of three months, and serve as a tangible support system for them
during that period. Based on the needs of the family in question,
such support might include (a) meals for the family, (b) transportation
to and from work, school or other events, (c) housing at the faith
community itself, should such emergency housing be required, and
(d) financial support and/or job referral (particularly in the
case of job loss due to publicity of the case). Although this
form of very public hospitality is entirely legal, faith communities
involved in this aspect will have access to first-rate pro-bono
legal services.
Material Support. Faith communities
will provide financial support towards either (a) the New Sanctuary
Movement itself, or (b) a pool of money to be used to assist specific
families in the local community seeking sanctuary and in need
of the support. Depending upon storage and distribution capacity,
other forms of donations could also be given, including food,
bedding, clothing, and other material goods. Cultural, musical
and other educational events are encouraged to raise both money
for and awareness of the movement.
Worker Justice. Despite society’s
ongoing desire for the services of day laborers and immigrant
domestics, the climate of racism and harassment has reached a
fever pitch. Faith communities are called to offer support through:
1) being publicly present at existing day labor pick-up sites
as a peaceful presence in the face of racist and hateful demonstrators;
2) serving as an alternative labor/employer match site; and/or
3) being advocates for worker issues.
Download
PDF version of
Allied Communities Pledge
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