Local grassroots, religious organizations band together for immigration rally
The pews at Asbury United Methodist Church were filled with people Thursday evening — but attendees weren’t at the Prairie Village church for a religious service.
The church at 5400 W. 75th St. hosted a prayer vigil and rally supporting immigrants in the Kansas City metro, according to a news release from Sagi Rudnick, a program and administrative associate for Kansas Interfaith Action.
“So tonight is a step in reclaiming voices silenced, and giving light to those who need to know that they are seen, and loved, and welcomed here,” said Asbury United Methodist Church Rev. Jeff Prothro.
The event was sponsored by several local grassroots organizations, including Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR), Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth’s Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, El Centro, Loud Light, Kansas Latino Community Network, Boots on the Ground Midwest and Kansas Interfaith Action, the news release said.
“Let’s remember our responsibility as human beings, as people called to be the light,” speaker Diosselyn Tot, with the Kansas Latino Community Network, said Thursday. “Because the real work is building something better, not repeating the harm, but creating happiness filled with dignity, fairness and love.”
The rally opened with a welcome from Prothro, followed by speeches from 10 speakers, three songs and a candle lighting, according to an event program. Closing remarks were made by Wichita United Church of Christ’s Rev. Jacob Poindexter.
In the news release, Rabbi Moti Rieber, with Kansas Interfaith Action, said the event was an opportunity for “predominantly white congregations to voice our support for our immigrant neighbors and say no to xenophobia and cruelty.”
On Thursday, he led attendees in a chant: “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here.”
“Immigrants work hard, they pay taxes, they bring a huge amount of value to our economy, and, most importantly, they are human beings entitled to dignity and respect,” Rieber said.
The rally ended in a candlelight vigil and rendition of “Lean on Me,” by Bill Withers, the news release said.
