Migrant Protests and Care For the Stranger: Reflections of a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

Jesus told his followers: ” I was a stranger and you invited me in” and you gave me food and drink and clothing and looked after me…so you are the ones who are blessed and will inherit the kingdom prepared for you. Those who fail to enact this justice and mercy to the “least of these” fail to do it to him, and are not inheriting the eternal life Jesus offers. ( Matthew 25: 31-46).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is crystal clear on so many things yet we who claim to follow it are often not getting it. Growing out of God’s love and the letter and the spirit of the laws of Moses we are clearly told to care for and not to oppress the stranger, the “alien” among us. The writer of Exodus reminds us that we are not to mistreat or oppress strangers in our land as we too were once aliens and we should know how it feels (Exodus 22:21; Exodus, 23:9).

On Saturday June 28, 2023 there was a major march of migrant workers and their supporters here in Fort Myers, Florida. CBS News reported that “Thousands of marchers walked four miles from the downtown Centennial Park to Palm Beach Blvd. area to protest the new Senate Bill 1718″ that is more repressive than ever in denying the rights of the migrant workers who do the work no one else wants to do, and do it well. Employers who hire more than 25 workers are subject to high daily fines and imprisonment for hiring those without legal papers.

Marchers who were interviewed said that many migrants are already leaving Florida. Who will pick the crops will be a new problem to solve. One respondent, Brianda Tapia, said “we’re all equal”. And another’s sign said “Nuestro Trabajo Merece Respeto”- our work merits respect! Indeed! The showing of thousands of marchers was more than anyone expected. It was a great showing of solidarity and , yes, hope that their voices could be heard and respected. We can only hope, for our own sake as well as theirs, that this is so. That this can really be so in this land of the free.

Below is a poem that I wrote in 2006 about a Protest March for migrants that took place then. The words ring true now, and even more so for little has changed except to get even worse for the “Strangers in our land”.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF HAS ANYTHING CHANGED?

t

The Silenced

have come

forward and

claimed their

rights to assemble

and speak freely

From The FlameKeeper and Other Poems , Judith A B Lee, pp. 235-238 ( 2007, PublishAmerica, Baltimore).

Let us join in protest and in prayer for the plight of the immigrants in this land of hope and glory.

Let us pray for the respect the worker deserves no matter where he or she came from and how they are here. Jesus said: when you welcome the stranger, you welcome me. Let us welcome Jesus today.

Blessings and prayers,

Pastor Judy Lee RCWP

The Good Shepherd Ministries of Fort Myers, Florida,

July 7, 2023