Immigration Rights Alert for Grand Rapids
Since the Grand Rapids Press posted a story about today’s planned prayer vigil in support of immigrant rights, there have been a large number of comments left on Mlive.
Most of the comments are critical of the planned vigil for this afternoon at Ah Nab Awen Park (5:30pm). However, there are also several comments from those who favor the new Arizona law to come today and protest the prayer vigil.
We encourage as many people who are able to come to stand in solidarity with people who are vulnerable to these laws and the racialized hatred that comes with it. Those of us who are privileged need to be willing to stand with people who are the targets of this hateful anti-immigration sentiment that exists in West Michigan.
Whether or not you are a person of faith, it is important for people to come today to send a message to people who think that immigrants threaten their way of life. More importantly, join us today to send a message to those at risk of racial profiling, police harassment, detention and deportation that we will not stand for these kinds of policies. Come stand in solidarity with all immigrants!
5:30 – 6:30pm
Ah nab Awen Park
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 
Instead of a prayer vigil why not expose the fact that a majority US-based Christians, including those who passed and support this law, are the root of the problem?
Glenn, I agree that many in the christian community are anti immigrant and there have been numerous reports on this by groups like Political Research Associates, but the post here was an invitation for people to stand for immigrant rights and those who are at risk of racist attacks and police repression, especially since anti-immigrant forces are threatening to protest the vigil.
Where is the proof that the majority of U.S. Christians are part of the problem? The Catholic church has been one of the staunchest proponents of immigrant rights–priests are repeatedly being arrested in civil disobedience actions for reform. The vast majority of mainline churches stand in favor of sensible immigration reform. Even Evangelical leaders are now teaming with Obama in favor of reform, according to a recent NY Times article. It’s pretty sad to me that the first comment on this blog was not a xenophobic attack, but an attack on immigrants’ allies! You don’t build a movement by attacking your allies!
Micah, although I understand your viewpoint, I also understand and sympathize with Glenn’s. It is undeniable that many churches in this country, particularly more conservative ones like the Reformed tradition churches, the Southern Baptists, and others, have spent the last couple of decades wallowing in what I can only describe as hate-mongering. They are, or have been, against: the end of apartheid…women as clergy…gay marriage…and a number of other social justice issues.
The Mormons, as just one example, taught for 150 years that anyone with black skin was cursed and not of God. A poll done in the mid-2000s showed that evangelicals were twice as likely to be racist as people of other religions. And if you look at churches that have allied themselves currently with the Tea Party, as one example, you’ll see a lot of racist rhetoric. This was just denounced last week by the NAACP.
On the other hand, here is the Christian Reformed Church, with its lengthy history of intolerance, actually hosting a vigil in support of immigrants. Change is possible, and in change of viewpoint lies hope.
So while it is true that currently some churches have made this a cause and are acting compassionately, and we can be grateful for that fact, I can sympathise with Glenn’s skepticism and anger as well.
I like Micah’s response: “You don’t build a movement by attacking your allies!” Those of us who want to build a just world need to learn how to stick together despite our ideological or religious differences. And I disagree with Glen; Christianity is not the root of the problem. I would say that the ruling class is at the root of most of the earth’s troubles–its use of religion to keep folks in line is just one of the many tools used.
Stelle, in my opinion there’s a big difference between uniting with people “despite our religious or ideological differences” and attempting an alliance with an organization that is currently and actively involved in bigotry and hateful social stances.
The Christian Reformed Church is a great example of this. Suddenly, this organization has mantled itself as a champion of immigration reform…as have a number of evangelical churches. Is this a change of heart or is it a sudden acknowledgement on the part of right-wing, hyper-conservative churches that they have completely alienated the Latino vote and need to win it back in time for the November election?
A little recap. The CRC is currently and actively engaged in:
-A debate (still!) on whether it can fully embrace the Belhar Confession, a tacit condemnation of apartheid, after the CRC turned a blind eye to this system of slavery for decades. The CRC, of course, was allied by common heritage with the South African church that actively supported apartheid.
-Encouraging women to remain in abusive marriages because only adultery is grounds for divorce.
-Allowing some classes to refuse women ministers, having only allowed women to hold some significant positions in the church in the year 1995.
-Preventing Calvin College professors from teaching, writing, or even discussing in the privacy of their own homes any positive views on gays or gay marriage.
-Teaching that Catholic Mass is an abomination, “a condemnable idolatry.” “Children of the devil” is a phrase that some CRC-educated people I know say they were taught in school to describe Roman Catholics.
This and many other actions do not exactly comprise a record that would inspire confidence in any right-thinking person. It goes way, way beyond “differences of opinion.”
Is there common ground to be found with people who advance this kind of ongoing bigotry, narrow-mindedness, and cruelty? I’m not personally sure there is. I suppose it’s possible to take advantage of their politically expedient move to aid immigration reform, but “sticking together” with them is another matter entirely.
Of course all those things re: the CRC are true. But they don’t even represent mainstream Christianity–they’re far to the right of most Christians. Plus, the only way those people are going to change is through active engagement. If we’re going to build a movement, we need to meet people where they’re at–even if where they’re at is a debate that should’ve been settled several hundred years ago, like whether or not women should be allowed to be pastors. In a place like West Michigan, where conservativism (religious or secular) runs very deep, this is especially true. We need to be building relationships with CRC folks who are at least correct on one issue, like immigration, but still are saying crazy stuff about gay folks. I feel like that’s the only way we can hope to turn a place like West Michigan around.
You make a good point, MU. This is an issue I struggle with constantly; I admit it. I believe in inclusion and in building a cooperative effort to address social issues. And yet it’s very difficult for me, as I suspect it is for Glenn who started this thread, to set aside my personal feelings about the actions and motives of certain groups when they get involved in social justice work.
Greetings,
My name is Luis Rivas and I help organize monthly interfaith social justice events at the United University Church at USC. Next event is March 17 on the theme of women and immigrant rights. I would love to use the above image. May i?
Luis, please use the graphic or any content from our site.