Listen to this note:
On September 25, the 2024 Pilgrimage to End Detention: A Journey to Freedom will begin, an interfaith spiritual journey that is part of a multi-year effort to close the six remaining immigration detention centers in California.
Thus, next Wednesday this pilgrimage will begin in Bakersfield, then travel to Adelanto, Calexico and end in San Diego.
"As we work with our host communities, we will support their local efforts to move away from cages and invest in community well-being and life-sustaining economies," the filmmakers said in a statement.
Their journey, they said, is led by people directly affected and will bring the stories of formerly incarcerated and detained people to immigrants, affected families and the broader community as they seek to build a foundation for freedom and justice.
During this pilgrimage, they said, testimony will be given to the sacredness of the land, to the ancestors and to the avoidable harm and suffering caused by the detention of immigrants in California.
"We will gather in reflection, prayer, and action at six immigrant detention centers, other carceral institutions, and meet with local organizers along the way. We will reflect on the impacts of settler colonialism on indigenous peoples, the land, and waters of California, and how this has paved the way for a carceral state that can and must be transformed," they stressed.
The Pilgrimage is organized by the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, the Dignity Not Detention coalition, and local community organizations.
They therefore invited directly affected community members, religious leaders and partners of the organisations to join them on this journey.
Those interested who have questions about the pilgrimage can contact Matthew at the email mattleber75@gmail.com.
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