The
Lights for Liberty Vigil to End Human
Detention Camps at 7:30 pm this Friday
July 12 to at the McHenry County Jail will attract
hundreds of participants from across
the Chicago metropolitan area and Northern Illinois. Although there are dozens of other local
Lights for Liberty actions across the region, including one in near-by Crystal Lake, the Woodstock rally is
the only one at a facility housing
immigration detainees.
The
McHenry County Sherriff’s Department
controversially rents the fourth floor of the Jail to the U.S. Marshall’s service to hold adult immigrants awaiting status hearings, appeals, or deportation
orders who have been rounded up across Northern Illinois. Criticized as a “cash cow” for McHenry County coffers, the facility holds detainees
not only from Mexico and Central America, but from across the
globe including Africans, Asians, and Europeans.
The
nation-wide Lights for Liberty events have been organized by “a coalition of
people, many of whom are mothers, dedicated to human rights, and the
fundamental principle behind democracy that all human beings have a right to
life, liberty and dignity. We are partnering with international, national,
regional and local communities and organizations who believe that these
fundamental rights are not negotiable and are willing to protect them.”
According
to Patrick Murfin, an organizer of
the Woodstock event and co-chair of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist
Congregation Social Justice Team, there was a groundswell of interest in
the event especially “after disclosures of shocking conditions and abuse in
holding facilities for children at the border and President Trump’s threat of
massive round-up raids to round up entire families across the country which has
terrified whole communities.
“We
will callout immigrant detentions camps for the shame of what they really
are—American concentration camps.”
The
event will begin with a rally on the
grassy area across from the jail
along Seminary Avenue—Route 47—in Woodstock between Ware Road and Russel Court.
Speakers from organizations fighting for immigration justice and members of the
impacted communities will highlight all aspects of the abusive system including the infamous border detention camps, the plight of children and separated families,
sexual abuse and violence in detention facilities, the abandonment
of traditional processes for applying for asylum, and the special dangers faced by LGBTQ persons.
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A candlelight vigil at McHenry County
Jail/Immigrant Detention center one year ago
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At
9 pm the candle light vigil will
begin, coordinating with other actions across the country. Participants are urged to bring friends,
signs, candles.
The
event is co-sponsored by Indivisible Illinois, Interfaith Community for Detained
Immigrants (ICDI), League of United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC-IL), McHenry
County Democratic Party, McHenry County
Democratic Women’s Club, McHenry
County National Organization for Women (NOW), McHenry County Progressives, Rape
Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), Woodstock Pride, and the Tree
of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation Social Justice Team.
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Some of Lights for Liberty Woodstock sponsors
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Parking
will be available in the Northwood
Junior High school lot across Rt. 47, in the County Health Clinic parking lot at the corner of Ware Road and
Rt. 47, and along Russel Court. No
parking will be permitted in the Jail lot.
Marshalls in reflective vests will be available to assist.
