Juanita Cabrera Lopez: “Stand with the Maya peoples and act from a place of compassion, humanity, dignity and truth as we demand answers, accountability, and justice for our children”
Video: https://www.facebook.com/churchworldservice/videos/2351949131714196/
“Virtual vigil” continues online: https://www.facebook.com/events/468495077026305/?ti=ia
Washington, D.C. — Children are dying at our nation’s border, after coming here for safety and protection.
Carlos, a sixteen year-old Maya Achi youth from Guatemala, died this week. Wilmer, a two year-old, died last week. They were preceded in death by Jakelin (Maya Q’eqchi’), Felipe (Maya Chuj), Juan (Maya Ch’orti’) and, we just learned, a ten year-old girl from El Salvador whose death had not been previously disclosed. She died in 2018.
Today marks one year since Claudia Patricia Gómez González, a 20 year-old Maya Mam woman from Guatemala, was shot in the head and killed by a Border Patrol agent while seeking safety in the United States.
Interfaith leaders, Juanita Cabrera Lopez of the International Mayan League, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) came together today to mourn these young lives lost, pray for the administration to finally see the inherent humanity of the lives of migrants, and to act to change these inhumane policies. They held an prayer vigil at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. Watch video of the vigil here. Tweets can be found at #NoDHSDeaths.
Juanita Cabrera Lopez, Executive Director of the International Mayan League, shared a message from Claudia Gomez’ father, Gilberto, on behalf of their family:
What I ask is that there is justice for her. This is what I have always asked, JUSTICE. We want answers. We ask that this not be forgotten, that this not continue to happen, so that more fathers and mothers don’t lose their children and endure the suffering that we have endured.
Cabrera Lopez added: “Let me be clear, the five children thus far identified were Maya children from Guatemala. Each indigenous child was forced to migrate because they are the most affected by centuries of structural inequality and discrimination in Guatemala.” She called upon the community “to continue to stand with the Maya peoples and act from a place of compassion, humanity, dignity and truth as we demand answers, accountability, and justice for our children. We must stand on the right side of history, for Claudia, and for all our stolen children, lives that have joined the cosmos and are now our ancestors.”
After Senator Merkley gave his remarks, Jose Arnulfo Cabrera, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, read a prayer by Sandy Ovalle of Sojourners in Spanish which begins: “Pequeñita saliste con esperanza durmiendo aún en los brazos de tu padre / Little one, you set out full of hope, still sleeping in your father’s arms.” Laura Peralta-Schulte, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, read the English translation.
Prayers were also offered by Sr. Marie Lucey, Franciscan Action Network; Imam Ali Siddiqui, DMV Sanctuary Congregations Network, Muslim Institute – Interfaith Studies & Understanding; and Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Washington Director, Bend The Arc: Jewish Action.
The two Interfaith Immigration Coalition Co-Chairs, Faith Williams of the National Council of Jewish Women and Katie Adams with United Church of Christ closed out the solemn gathering, and called for our leaders in Washington to do more to protect children and other vulnerable people in our care.
The vigil took place just before Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan’s appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where he was expected to once again demand more money to further militarize the border and restrict access to asylum. Instead of this increase in aggression at our border, people of faith are demanding justice, accountability, and compassion from our leaders in Washington.
The vigil continues online, as people from all over are invited to offer their own prayers and reflections on the Facebook event page. Watch video of the in-person vigil here.
Co-sponsoring organizations: Bend the Arc; Jewish Action; Bread for the World; Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.; Church World Service; DMV Sanctuary Congregations Network; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Families Belong Together; Faith in Public Life; Franciscan Action Network; International Mayan League; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Council of Jewish Women; National Religious Campaign Against Torture; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Sojourners; Southern Border Communities Coalition; United Church of Christ
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of 52 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants.
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