Friday night, protestors gathered at Freedom Corner in Capaha Park by candlelight to demonstrate their opposition to current conditions at migrant detention facilities along the U.S. southern border, immigration policy, and a promise by the Trump Administration to conduct immigration raids on several U.S. cities, which, as of Sunday, failed to materialize.
Organizer and Southeast professor Vicky McAlister says the event was organized within a week’s time and came as the organization, Lights for Liberty, was also holding nationwide protests.
McAlister said that the situation at the border isn’t nearly as far from home as one might think.
“This is actually not a border issue any longer,” she said. “There are six other [detention centers] in the state of Missouri. While most of the attention has been focused on the border, it’s a Missouri--it’s a midwest issue.”
The matter hits close to home, she said, because one of the nearest detention centers is in Ullin, IL.
“I think it’s important, as well, for people to see, just because we’re geographically removed, doesn’t mean we don’t care,” she said.
An Irish immigrant, McAlister said she had a much different experience coming to America as she was welcomed with “open arms.”
“My experience is one of privilege here, where the entirety of this country has been completely welcoming to me,” she said.
On the campaign trail again, former House of Representatives candidate Kathy Ellis spoke at the event in hopes of gaining support in her new run for Missouri’s 8th District Congressional Seat.
She said the Trump administration has attacked “everyone who doesn’t fit the Aryan model.”
“We know that the trauma and psychological damage to these children will follow them for the rest of their lives and their children’s lives, down through the generations,” Ellis said.
Ellis said she would be willing to work with anyone to “bring this nightmare to a close.”
“Congress has passed the buck far too long with our immigration policy,” she said. “We need to make sure, of course, our borders are safe, but we also want to welcome people into our country because our diversity is our strength.”
St. James AME pastor, Renita Green was one of three ministers present at the curbside protest and vigil. She spoke to the crowd about how people of faith are not living up to Christian ideals.
“I think it’s absolutely the role of the religious community,” she said. “We’re talking about valuing the humanity of another person."
Dave Poisson was one of the attendees at the protest and vigil. He said he disapproved of current immigration policy, and called it a “serious issue.” His main concerns were the separation of families, as well as the “locking up for long periods of time, the going after people who live and work in the country but aren’t document yet.”
Sisters Peggy Reed and Sandy Parks were at the event, because they thought the local support would be part of a national “snowball” effect.
“The snowball has to start somewhere, and I’m going to be part of that snowball,” Reed said.