Immigrant neighbors face detention fears
Sonoma County people know our immigrant neighbors are being threatened with detention and possible deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), sometimes even separating families, so some immigrants avoid necessary public appearances like probation hearings or trips to the store out of fear of being detained or worse. Our neighbors have to live in fear and a great many object to this.
Churches and nonprofits join hunger strike
10 churches, several nonprofits and more than 300 individuals joined in solidarity with the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition Hunger Strike, demanding the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors pass an ordinance forbidding government officials to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
The churches included Christ Church United Methodist, Santa Rosa; Unitarian Universalist churches in Petaluma and Santa Rosa; Community Church of Sebastopol; and Congregation Ner Shalom, Cotati.
Day and night, the hunger strikers stayed in a makeshift camp in front of the Board of Supervisors office, drinking donated liquids but no food. Spirits seemed high, but a sign asked that the strikers not be interviewed. Spokespeople from the churches were in attendance daily.
Debate over an ordinance and next steps
A question lingered: Would the strike continue if the board didn’t put the ordinance on its agenda for consideration?…