by Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Thousands of supporters of comprehensive immigration reform, including member of Pax Christi Illinois, rallied and marched through the West Chicago on Saturday, July 27, urging Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL 6th) to stop obstructing common sense reform that includes a path to citizenship. The rally included stories of “Dreamers,” children who came with their undocumented parents to this country and now face marginalization and roadblocks to a life of dignity. Other children told of the hardships of having a father or mother torn from their lives because of the enforcement only policies of our government.
The common thread in all of the testimonies was a warning to the Republican Party that their anti-immigrant polices will not be forgotten – not in November and not for generations to come. (Rep. Roskam along with most of his fellow Republican house members recently voted to repeal the citizenship of any child born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.)
Pax Christi Illinois members have been following the lead of our immigrant brothers and sisters for many years in the struggle for just and compassionate immigration reform. They have taught us the power of solidarity and they have shown us the power of faith in the pursuit of justice. As religious leaders and parish groups sang, prayed and marched in the streets it was clear that this is what “Church” looks like.