ME: FAITH LEADERS DECRY ICE-LINKED KILLINGS
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SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) — Leaders from various faiths from around the state gathered in South Portland on Thursday against recent violent incidents involving ICE.
The event was a part of a collaboration between Texas, Florida and Maine that held corresponding gatherings. All three have had ICE-related killings this month.
“It’s a reality that the communities are under attack,” commented Community Leader at Masjid Al-Huda, Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed.
The gathering comes ten days after the death of Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford.
“We claim Joan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, as our fellow Mainer,” said Lead Pastor at HopeGateWay Church, Rev. Sara Ewing Merrill. “He might have been from Colombia, but he was one of ours.”
Several of the speakers stated that many of their members are scared to leave their homes, even to visit their places of worship.
“When immigrants tell us they’re afraid to leave their homes or too afraid to send their kids to school, it is a lie if we say ‘you’re fine, just go ahead and do it.’ It’s not true. It’s not safe for them to do many things,” added Ewing Merrill.
Examples of others volunteering to go grocery shopping, run errands and more for those who might not want to leave their homes were also mentioned.
“America is immigration and immigration is America. The two are inseparable and always have been and always will be. Our faith is that what is good about America will defeat what is wrong about America right now.”
Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches Rev. Jane Field also stated that later on this year, the organization will be working with national partners for work on voter registration and elections.
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