For Ohioans, public witness is sometimes the only way to get the attention of our nonresponsive Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno. The cynicism of Ted Diadiun’s June 22 commentary, “Protest marches are full of sound and fury … signifying nothing,” about what he perceives as the futility of protest marches, fueled my energy for joining a prayer walk on June 24 that was sponsored by NETWORK Catholic social justice advocates.
In the heat of the midday sun, about 80 of us walked peacefully through downtown Cleveland to the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse. We carried signs to show support for immigrant families, to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and roundups, and to condemn detention and deportation without due process.
I can’t measure how much difference we made. But I do fear what might happen if we remain silent. Our public witness is not one and done. I’m in for the long haul…