Dozens of workers and recipients of DACA and TPS began a fasting campaign in Washington on Wednesday to urge Congress and the administration of President Joe Biden to pass legislation
granting residency and citizenship to the more than 11 million of undocumented in the country.
The "Fast for Freedom", which has the initiative of several religious and civic organizations, will last three weeks and will be in stages in more than a dozen states, according to
Faith In Action
, one of the community and religious organizations more big in America.
Wednesday's program included prayers on the steps at the entrance to the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington and a peaceful walk to the headquarters of Congress.
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“
It is time for the leaders of Congress to act
.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have the votes to include a path to citizenship, ”said Nanci Palacios, a DACA recipient and member of the community organization LA RED of Florida, through a press release.
A group of immigrants, religious and community leaders participate this Wednesday, June 9, 2021, in a walk and fast in Washington.
Courtesy Faith in Action
Palacios stressed that this summer's legislative term is the best option for political leaders
if they "really want to protect immigrant communities
" across the country.
He added that fasting is "a wake-up call for them to start working."
Voluntary food deprivation seeks to "increase pressure on the White House and members of Congress" to open a path to citizenship for essential workers, beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The Nine Street Baptist Church, which participates in this activity, indicated that
many of those millions of undocumented immigrants "have been the essential workers
who have kept our families and our economy running during the pandemic" by COVID-19.
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“The fast will be a prayer to our creator for justice that has not been elusive, and a claim to the consciences of leaders in Congress, the [Biden] Administration, and of every American, so that immigrants may finally be delivered the love, respect and compassion that we all deserve as children of God, ”said Father Vidal Rivas, of the Catholic Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, Maryland.
A dozen people fasted on Wednesday, but that number is expected to grow
as similar events will take place starting Thursday in California, Arizona, Minnesota, New York and Virginia, among others, according to a
Faith In Action
spokeswoman.
.
Those interested in participating can register by filling out an online form enabled by the organization.
With information from EFE