Marching in the Footprints of Justice: Faithful Resistance in Washington D.C.
I’m sure you’ve felt it, too - a lurking sense of dread when you turn on the TV or read the latest news articles in your social media feed. Everyday there is a new reason to worry, overthink, check out from thinking, rage, weep. Some days, the despair is a trickle, some days it’s a tidal wave.
Sunday mornings at Edgehill are my weekly top-off of hope, and not just because the sermon is reliably inspiring (props, Eric). During morning announcements, members of Edgehill share important justice actions that are happening in the community and how we can get involved. I am always in awe of the passion and dedication that Edgehillians pour into the church and our local community. I am inspired by the lifelong commitment to justice lived out by elder members of the church since the Civil Rights Movement, the AIDS epidemic, and beyond. They are my role models, and I aspire to humbly walk in the footprints they’ve left behind.
When Eric asked if I would be interested in representing our church at the Faithful Resistance for Immigrant Justice March on Washington on February 25th, I knew this would be a unique opportunity to put my faith in action like the Edgehill saints before me. Beyond simply marching, chanting and praying, we would also be meeting with legislators to discuss our concerns with our now defunct immigration system and terrorism enacted by ICE. Eric and I gathered a small group to travel with us, we booked our plane tickets, and we were off.
I could not have asked for a better group to take this action with in Washington DC. Bill Howell is an elder activist of Edgehill and is known for taking a bold stand for justice throughout his life. I am sure that I only know a small percentage of Bill’s activism stories, but each one leaves me more in awe than the last. If you haven’t heard about his recent tattoo - ask him about it. It all connects to justice, and preparedness.
Kathryn Tune also quickly got on board for the trip, and I was so glad that she did. Kathryn is a kind and genuine soul, has a powerful and caring heart for others, and is a huge contributor to the church in more ways than I can list. She is preparing to enter the Vanderbilt Divinity program in the fall with a full ride scholarship. She and Bill are two of my Edgehill role models.
The group and I left for Washington DC on Tuesday morning, February 24th. When we touched down in the city, our first priority was visiting the National Museum of African American History, luggage and all. Walking through the halls of the museum felt like a prayerful prelude to the march. The museum was a sober reminder that history repeats itself - we must not become comfortable or complacent.
When the group and I got settled in our Airbnb later on Tuesday evening, we gathered in the living room and watched the State of the Union on TV. With every hateful word the president directed at our immigrant siblings, we knew we had made the right choice to be there in our nation’s capitol for the march.
On the morning of the March on Washington, we were up bright and early. Bill left before us to volunteer as an usher at Capitol Hill UMC. Despite timing our breakfast and travel time to be early for the morning worship service at the historic Capitol Hill UMC, Eric, Kathryn and I received notification en route that the church had met capacity, and to head to the overflow location of Ebenezer UMC. While en route to Ebenezer, we received word yet again that location had quickly met capacity, and to instead head to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Turn out of clergy and lay people of all faith backgrounds far exceeded any numbers the UMC organizers of the event expected. What a hopeful problem to encounter!
We were disappointed to miss the worship service at Capitol Hill UMC, but this is when the first of two happy accidents occurred. As we traveled to the third overflow church in our Lyft, the one and only Senator Bernie Sanders took the crosswalk and sidewalk right beside our car. Our wonderful Lyft driver, Chris, saw him first. Bernie was carrying a small laptop bag and walking on his own, with no security detail or fanfare. Chris lowered Eric’s front passenger window and called out a morning greeting to the Senator, who turned and gave us a brief wave. Kathryn and I squealed, and fan-girled about that moment for the rest of the day.
When we arrived at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, they were quickly reaching capacity as well. Eric asked if we would be okay with walking to Capitol Hill UMC to be closer to the “action.” We agreed and set off on foot. When we arrived at the church, we sat outside and streamed the service on Eric’s phone and chatted with the organizers and security volunteers. We met many UMC pastors and faith leaders from a variety of churches and bonded over our shared concerns over the state of the world, particularly the horrors of ICE.
As the church service came to a close, our second happy accident of the day took place. Since we were already outside and ready when Capitol Hill UMC began to empty, Eric, Kathryn and I were invited to take first row position in the march, holding the banner that read, “Faithful Resistance, A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice.”
As the first several hundreds of marchers filed in behind us and we set off, Kathryn and I looked at each other and laughed with an unspoken “Can you believe this is happening?” Several photographers ran ahead of us and snapped pictures as the growing crowd marched behind us. Rev. Lydia Muñoz led us in chants and protest songs with her strong and soulful voice. These were moments I know that I’ll never forget.
The march concluded in front of the Capitol. Eric, Kathryn and I continued to hold the banner at the front of the rally as several powerful speakers (including faith leaders and progressive politicians) prayed, shared stories, concerns, and calls to action for immigrant justice for the crowd of over 2000 people. The feeling of shared power and connection buzzed in the air.
When the rally concluded, we joined Bill (who had been watching and recording us from the front of the crowd) and got a quick lunch before heading over to the Capitol building for our scheduled meeting times with our representatives. With the fellow Tennesseans in our group, we were led by a volunteer coordinator who coached us on the process of meeting with representatives and how to share our concerns in an effective and productive way.
We attempted to meet with Representative Matt Van Epps of the 7th District, who was not available. Kathryn impressed me as she made a concise and impassioned statement about lack of oversight, training, and inhumane tactics taken by ICE to Van Epp’s staffer, who promised to share our concerns with him later. Bill shared his work in distributing literature in immigrant neighborhoods, such as “Know Your Rights” cards, and explained the reason that he felt the need to tattoo his US Passport number on the inside of his arm. We are hopeful that the symbolism of Bill’s actions left an impact.
We were able to speak with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann of the 3rd District. Eric shared our demands of ICE being removed from our neighborhoods, especially sensitive areas such as churches, hospitals and daycares. We shared our concerns at the unchecked and excessive funding of ICE. In response, Congressman Fleischmann stated that he sponsored the bill that funded ICE, and he “wants peace for everyone.”
We concluded our meetings with an attempt to speak with Marsha Blackburn. Unfortunately, she was not available to speak with us, but we provided her staffers with documentation outlining our concerns regarding ICE and immigration. We then decided to try our luck with meeting Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders (for a second time that day) but both were in meetings. I think I can speak for the whole group in saying that it was exciting just to be in their offices for a moment.
Reflecting on the trip as a whole, I am incredibly grateful for the experience that Eric, Kathryn, Bill and I shared. We met kind, brave, and passionate people from all over the country. We chanted from a deep place in our spirit, sang from our heart, and prayed with our feet. We learned a lot about what makes a successful and effective trip to our nation’s capitol and have this information for the next time Edgehill plans such an event. More than anything, this trip affirmed to me that I’m in the right church with the right people, standing on the right side of history.
Because I don’t go to church - I go to Edgehill.
May we continue to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly, together - for immigrants, and for all God’s children.
Our work continues.