About 150 Northern Illinois United Methodists marched to demonstrate their support of justice for immigrants on June 15, near the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center, attracting supportive waves and horn-honking from passersby.

Demonstrators gathered first in front of the convention center and then walked to Meacham Road, chanting and singing songs of faith.

Oppressive action by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has resulted in the detention and deportation of people who appear to have Latin American background--regardless of their status as citizens or legal residents.

Some immigrants who have not been targeted for deportation face harrassment in their communities, as have some Asian-American pastoral families appointed in predominantly white areas.

This and the repressive treatment of churchpeople and others who have stood up for their immigrant neighbors captured the concern of these United Methodists. 

The demonstration, “Faithful Action: Love Your Neighbor,” drew on Jesus’s teachings and example to love our neighbors and expressed welcome to immigrants to Chicago-area communities. 

“Scripture and our United Methodist Social Principles call us to show compassion for our neighbors and to work to meet their needs, but we are also charged to challenge the laws and policies that harm them,” said Lisa Rogers, advocacy chair of the NIC Commission on Religion and Race. 

"We believe we must leave the safety of our sanctuaries and stand up for the dignity, worth, and rights of migrants, immigrants, and refugees. It’s important for us to stand together to show that United Methodists are committed to loving and supporting our immigrant neighbors through loud—but peaceful—protest.” 

Marchers heard from Rev. Giovanni Arroyo, general secretary of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, and Bishop Dan Schwerin.

"Neighbors are not metaphors," the bishop said. "Neighbors are not tools for political theater. Neighbors are not a disposable commodity, but central to the kin-dom of God. We live towrd a kin-dom of mutual benefit, and we take justice steps twoard an inerdependent good, an ubuntu where lion and lamb dwell in well-being."

"As United Methodists, we are called to show compassion forour neighbors, without exception."

He quoted from the United Methodist Social Principles ("The Political Community, G.: Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees," The Book of Discipline):

"We oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize, or punish displacd individiuals and famlies based on their status as migrants, immigrants, or refugees. Additionally, we decry attempts to detain discplaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. We challenge policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children, and we oppose the existence of for-profit detention centers for such purposes."

Read about how your church can create their own DIY Faithful Action Community Engagement Event.

View the Flickr Photo Gallery of the demonstration.