From August 21-22, 2009, ONSM hosted Kristin Kumpf, Organizing Director with Interfaith Worker Justice and former National Coordinator of the New Sanctuary Movement.  We shared our own stories of immigration and gained valuable skills for building the movement for immigrant justice in our communities.  We had participants from Forest Grove, Salem, Portland, and the Yakima Valley!

Back row: Ruth Worley Rizk (Ascension Catholic Church), Layton Borkan (Havurah Shalom), Sue Poteet (Prosser First Presbyterian Church), Mireya (Committee of Solidarity and Mutual Support).  Front row: Elisabeth Rogolsky (P’nai Or), Kwah Wa’adabi, Bob Brown (Havurah Shalom), Rev. Jack Knox (Salem Mennonite Church)

Kristin Kumpf (IWJ) leads a discussion about our stories of immigration and immigration policy in the United States.

Ruth Ventura (Bridgeport UCC) discusses her experience in providing hospitality to immigrants.

Eddy Crouch (Multnomah Monthly Meeting) shares organizing strategies.

Barbara Rogers (Ainsworth United Church of Christ) takes notes on common myths related to immigrants.

From September 1-3, 2009, nearly 100 people from throughout the U.S. came together in New York for the “Radical Welcome: Celebrating and Defending Communities Without Borders” National New Sanctuary Movement gathering.  We affirmed the following vision statement:

“We are based in congregations around the country which are connected to immigrant families who are facing the possibility of separation through deportation.  We are together because we are engaged in an authentic and passionate faith-rooted response to that suffering.  We respond as a hospitable and welcoming community to these immigrant families and we respond prophetically to the unjust systems that cause their suffering (including unfair trade policies).  We are committed to amplifying the voices of these families so that they can be heard by those whose decisions affect their lives.  We seek to encourage immigrant families, transform and deepen the commitment of congregations, and promote the vision of a society characterized by a culture of hospitality.  In all this, we draw from the wells of an ongoing movement of people of faith committed to justice.”

Photos from the Gathering (taken by Marco Mejia)

Haitian family in Sanctuary in New York City.

Gerardo “Santuario” (center), whose wife Liliana “Santuario” and their children are living in Sanctuary in Simi Valley, CA.

All are welcome at the table!

Representatives from Oregon, Washington and California share our success, challenges and opportunities around promoting immigrant justice.

Demonstration in front of the Varick Street Detention Center in downtown New York City.

Jenny Dale (Chicago NSC), Beth Poteet (ONSM), and Kristin Kumpf (Interfaith Worker Justice) join in the call for an end to deportations.

Jenny Dale (Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition Coordinator) and Beth Poteet (Oregon New Sanctuary Movement Coordinator) help lead a worship service remembering those who’ve died crossing through the desert into the U.S.

Joe, Mei, and their two daughters are living in Sanctuary in New York City.  They are originally from China.