On May 1, I and most of the IWJ staff and workers center leadership joined the immigrant rights march in Chicago, which the papers said drew 150,000 (of course as organizers we always believe there were twice as many folks).   It was a gorgeous sunny day for a march, much preferred to the January outdoor prayer vigils in front of companies.

After the march, I dashed to my church for a meeting. I apologized for being a bit sweaty and said I had come from the march. One of the participants asked, "Oh, was there a march against Darfur?" Others asked, "What march?"

Shame on me for not mobilizing folks at my own congregation to participate.  But as I reflect on the march and the overall fight for immigration reform, I am concerned that we are not tapping the U.S. public's moral imagination and core values of fairness.   Not only do folks not understand that if we don't protect immigrant workers, working conditions for all workers will be driven down, but vast numbers of non-immigrants don't even know that rallies drawing over 150,000 people are occurring.    

As the recipient of quite a few hate emails over the question of immigration reform, I am well aware that feelings run high and that we are a quite divided nation, even within our congregations.  Congregations that have lots of immigrants are very engaged in the issue, and national religious leaders have made strong statements in support of immigration reform.   Congregations with few immigrants are generally disengaged.   Many, like folks in my own congregation, don't even know rallies shutting down downtown are happening.

I'm excited about leadership from immigrant congregations and immigrant congregations, but I'm also concerned about how we collectively do a better job reaching out to all congregations about the need for a comprehensive and fair immigration policy. The New Sanctuary Movement has great potential to engage more congregations and discuss issues in the public area.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we do a better job engaging non-immigrant congregations on these issues.