Lutherans, Others to Mark May 12 Anniversary of Iowa Immigration Raid

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As the one-year anniversary of a massive
raid at a meatpacking plant nears, spiritual leaders in the
northeastern Iowa town of Postville are urging Americans to press
for comprehensive immigration reform.
They're also calling on individuals and communities to wear
or display red ribbons across the country on May 12, the
anniversary of the raid in Postville at Agriprocessors, once the
nation's largest producer of kosher meat.
"Immigration raids are foolish. They traumatize families and
children. They break families apart. We need a policy that treats
people with dignity and justice," said the Rev. Steven P.
Brackett, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville.
St. Paul is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), the nation's largest Lutheran
denomination.
Postville churches also will "sound a call for justice" by
ringing their bells at 10 a.m., the time the raids began. Bells
will toll 389 times at St. Paul Lutheran Church in remembrance of
those arrested and their families, largely Guatemalan and Mexican
nationals.
The 389 names will be read aloud during an interfaith prayer
service later in the day at St. Bridget Catholic Church, followed
by procession to the plant. Lutheran and Catholic bishops, as
well as a rabbi, plan to participate.
"We will pray that something positive comes out of what
happened at Agriprocessors -- that some of the hearts and damage
done to people will be healed," Brackett said.
Many of the illegal immigrants arrested were imprisoned for
several months and then deported. Others are still being
detained, including dozens of women wearing tracking devices,
waiting for court hearings and caring for their children. Because
they are not allowed to work, donations from religious
communities are helping to pay their living expenses, Brackett
said.
The plant and several of its leaders face numerous counts of
violating immigration and other laws. In addition, there are
thousands of charges accusing them of hiring and exploiting
minors, forcing some to handle dangerous equipment.
During the prayer service, two statements from Postville
detainees will be read. "I came to this country because I have a
son with asthma," one statement reads. "I could hardly provide
for food and clothing, let alone extra medicine in Mexico. ... I
saw the necessity to cross into the United States in order to
keep him alive."
The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern
Iowa Synod, Waverly, plans to speak about the trauma and grief of
Postville's Jewish and Christian communities in the aftermath of
the raids.
"Our children, the children of all faiths and from all parts
of the world, have experienced terror in a way that others
outside of this community cannot imagine," the bishop's
reflection states.
A copy of the May 12 prayer service is posted in English,
Spanish and some Hebrew at the Web site
http://www.postvillestbridget.org for use or adaptation around
the country.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog