By Cassy Benefield | FāVS News Reporter
Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience (FLLC) of Eastern Washington and North Idaho will lament current immigration policies and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at their next Truthful Tuesday Vigil on June 24. Instead of protest, there will be prayer. Instead of signs, there will be grief.
Not an ICE Protest
“This is not a protest,” said Jessa Lewis, a former state senate candidate and an FLLC supporter who helped with the event’s coordination. “This is more of an opportunity to come together prayerfully and with intention. To call the community to stand with our neighbors.”
The theme will be “The Golden Rule, a Universal Law.” FLLC believes this rule is a part of other faith and non-faith traditions and one that calls people to respect all humanity, according to a draft of their speech.
This rule — “In everything do to others what you would have the do to you” — will be discussed and visibly expressed with attendees gathered at the ICE Center, 411 W. Cataldo Ave. There, individuals in the area are invited to stand with immigrants in the community and on their behalf.
Jennyfer Mesa, executive director and founder of Latinos en Spokane, will be the guest speaker. Lewis said she will talk briefly about what these new immigration policies are doing to immigrants and their lives and livelihoods.
“None of this is new,” Lewis said. “We’ve had an immigration crisis for a while.”
She hopes through this event, others will be inspired to walk alongside and help community leaders who’ve been advocating for immigrants for a while.
About morals
“This should not be a political thing. It’s a moral one,” Lewis said. “These are our friends. These are our neighbors. These are our family members. What’s being done to them is immoral.”
Also, as part of the event, three faith leaders and leaders of conscience will speak about their own spiritual practice’s version of the golden rule. The Rev. Walter Kendricks will speak from the Christian perspective; author William Aal will speak from the perspective of Earth spirituality; and the Sufi speaker is still yet to be announced.
The event will take place at “high noon,” 12:10-12:50 p.m., because that’s when the light of day will be the greatest said the FLLC in an email.
“May that light shine in all hearts and minds. May the humanity of all people be respected,” they said in the draft of their speech. “We firmly declare that lawlessness, bigotry and violence have no place in our communities.”
More information will be added to the FLLC Facebook page as the vigil nears.
