Amid a growing climate of fear in Los Angeles, One LA-IAF launched its "Freedom School" strategy to respond to recent immigration raids and undermining of civil liberties that have terrorized communities throughout Los Angeles County. Hearkening back to the civil rights movement, 200 leaders spent July 4th reflecting on their faith traditions and American constitutional principles, while learning concrete organizing skills to safeguard their communities.
One LA leaders shared their stories of the fear and urgency of the moment, including of family members who have been detained or disappeared. A local school representative shared an account of a 9-year-old student whose family is planning to self-deport rather than risk a forced deportation if they report for their asylum case check-in. A parishioner shared that her daughter went two days without eating because she was too scared to go grocery shopping.
A labor union member shared that in every era of U.S. history, when there have been attempts to erode civil rights, it was every day people who reasserted their rights and dignity, and led with courage.
Two workshops were offered for all participants - “Constitutional Law 101 and Faith Traditions” and “Family Preparedness, Organizing your Community, and Know Your Rights.” Religious leaders and scholars from the Jewish, Disciples of Christ, and Catholic traditions shared their interpretations of how our faith calls us to be active participants when faced with injustices. An organizer from One LA and a synagogue leader taught the importance of due process and how to recognize and exercise our constitutional rights.
A parish leader from South LA reflected,
“...today I am proud to be with everyone. It gave me courage.”
Leaders committed to organizing Freedom Schools in their homes and institutions to defend the democratic values that were established at the founding of our republic. They also explored calling on the City of Los Angeles to organize official public hearings to document rights violations. Before departing, leaders led the group with an updated version of “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.”
[Photo Credit: Andrea Diaz]