They urge Congress to pass "real reforms with path to citizenship"
Contact: Laura Barrett, 314-443-5915, lbarrett@gamaliel.org; Ana Garcia-Ashley (bi-lingual), 414-708-3777, ana@gamaliel.org, Rev. Susan Sneed, 314-402-0778, susan@mcustl.com
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Roughly 100 women, including more than 25 undocumented women, pastors, grandmothers, moms and leaders from justice organizations -- were arrested at the intersection of Independence and New Jersey near Capitol Hill this morning protesting the failure of House members to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
"As an immigrant and mom, I have one thing to say to Congress: get to work," said Ana Garcia-Ashley (414-708-3777), Executive Director of the Chicago-based Gamaliel Foundation. "Last month, Rep. Paul Ryan told our organization that he believed that immigration reform needs a vote. But Rep. Ryan's leadership colleagues refuse to bring the bill to the floor."
"I want my grandkids to grow up in a world that's like the dream Dr. King spoke right here in DC," said Rev. Susan Sneed (314-402-0778) of Metropolitan Congregations United in St. Louis, MO. "I am putting my body on the line for that dream."
"I have seen too many of my friends struggle to get the appropriate papers so that they can take advantage of the DACA, Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals. While the 'dreamers' have a chance, their families do not," said Sarah Regenspan (412-737-4455) of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network in Pittsburgh. "Immigration reform is crucial for every young person to have the same chance I do to live out their dreams."
"I am organizing my fellow immigrants in St. Louis so that we can live the dream. As a mom, I know well the pain of not having documents, and living in the shadows," said Leticia Seitz of Metropolitan Congregations United in St. Louis, MO. "Thank goodness I was able to get on the path to citizenship and get my papers. I want to bring that kind of peace and security to the rest of my community."
Gamaliel (www.gamaliel.org) is a grassroots network of non-partisan, faith-based organizations in 17 U.S. states, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Gamaliel organizes to empower ordinary people to effectively participate in the political, environmental, social and economic decisions affecting their lives. Gamaliel's diverse members apply their faith and values to the pursuit of equal opportunity for all, shared abundance, and stronger, more prosperous communities.
