Greetings.
As you have probably heard, ICE has been showing up in force at OC and LA courthouses and is abducting folks as they leave their immigration related court hearings. It's absolutely diabolical, and crushing to witness the incredible pain of our siblings and their families as it happens.
As a result, in coordination with our partners, like the OC Rapid Response Network (OCRRN), Chirla, and others, CLUE is organizing our own nonviolent Rapid Response Network of trusted clergy and lay leaders who can respond with love in several ways:
1. COURTROOM OBSERVATION: Our network will coordinate to go at different times during the week (Mon-Fri) (dressed in clerical attire, please, if you're clergy; business casual for lay leaders, with anything that signals your faith if possible) to observe the court hearings at the Immigration Courthouse in Santa Ana. Doing so will A) signal to judges and ICE that we're watching; B) we will be able to nonviolently accompany families who are going through the worst day of their lives, or are fearful of something happening to them; and C) we will report back to our partner lawyers and organizers what we're witnessing inside.
2. COURT ACCOMPANIMENT: Our network will respond as needed when we receive requests to accompany specific individuals to and from court.
3. ATTENDING VIGILS: We may begin hosting regular, nonviolent faith community vigils at the courthouse and/or elsewhere. (Stay tuned for more details.).
4. NONVIOLENT PROTEST AND ACTION AROUND THE COUNTY: In addition, we're organizing and preparing for the possibility of having to act and support our partners in other forms of nonviolent protest beyond the courthouse.
*** The CLUE RRN is NONVIOLENT and will NOT in any way obstruct ICE operations or act in ill-spirited ways towards them -- we are simply present to bear sacred witness; to accompany and lift up families who may be going through the worst days of their lives; and to signal to the powers that be that people of faith will not stand for the violence being directed at our immigrant community. ***So we are focusing on recruiting faith community leaders who understand and are committed to The Six Principles of King'ian Nonviolence (or are committed to learning), and who can keep their cool if and when they witness the barbarity of ICE. Besides making sure we do not give in and begin using the oppressor's own tools of violence, we use these principles to attempt to DEESCALATE the situation, so that even if ICE does act, it feels compelled to act less violently than it might if unobserved; to try to calm and express love to the people who are being detained; and so that we don't get kicked out of and banned from the courthouse and lose our ability to observe and accompany individuals. We're also there to care for and accompany the incredibly brave and committed rapid response community volunteers who have in many cases been traumatized after spending days at a time observing these soul-crushing abductions.
Training is required to be an observer. To be an observer in our RRN at these courthouse visits, you will be trained upon arriving at the courthouse. You *must* give advance notice to CLUE organizers that you will be attending so that we can arrange for someone to train you. Training takes about 30 minutes, and then involves shadowing someone who has successfully observed before.
Please note that there are several roles to potentially play at the courthouse, both inside or outside the facility. For the most part we are looking for faith community to enter the facility and observe in the courtrooms and hallways. However, before entering we request that you consult with us to find out which roles they most need covered that day.
To get involved, please fill out the form below.
Thank you so much in advance for your love, care, and offer to support!
