On Saturday, June 30, a Families Belong Together & Free Rally was held in front of the Federal Building in Downtown Sacramento. The purpose of this rally was to decry the Trump Administration's Zero Tolerance Policy and to demand an end to the cruel separation of families at the border. Sacramento ACT was excited to participate and engage the faith community to lift up a united message that, as stated by Pr. Elizabeth Griswold, every family is a holy family!

 

However, we feel that an event that was intended to showcase a unified message and community, ended up being subverted by some who chose to be disrespectful when Cantor Julie Steinberg stood with her husband, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, to share a message as a Jewish faith leader. Cantor Steinberg was there to speak as a representative of Congregation B'nai Israel, a member of Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) and a Sanctuary Congregation. Unfortunately, as she began to speak, people in the crowd began chanting and booing her husband and eventually she was forced to step down from the microphone, unable to complete her remarks.

 

We understand that people have the right to express their different perspectives and views. However, booing someone who is speaking in good faith and being disrespectful to anyone who is standing with others for what is right, is never acceptable. SAC ACT brings together people from different faith backgrounds and seeks to find common ground. We must always be respectful as we speak our truths - whether or not we are in agreement with one another. In this time when civility is lacking in our public discourse, it is incumbent upon us as leaders to demonstrate that positive change can happen by working together towards common goals. Sacramento ACT will not participate in public rallies/demonstrations that foster disrespect of participants and which do not move us towards a better world that we are all striving for. We have begun and will continue to discuss ideas about preventing or handling these kinds of situations in the future.

 

We are proud to work with Congregation B'nai Israel, its faith leaders and members, and our Mayor, not just in our immigration work but across the spectrum of our efforts for justice and equity in Sacramento. We are also hopeful about the coalition of organizations that has been coming together to address and support immigrant issues. We know we need every single one of us to be working together towards justice and change. We will continue to explore and engage in efforts that build bridges across difference and lift up the dignity of all families.

 

Rev. Dr. Joy Johnson                                                   

President, Sacramento ACT 

Tere Flores                                       

Acting Director, Sacramento ACT

Sacramento ACT applauds the decision to end the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department's contract with ICE on Tuesday. The Sheriff's Department entered into a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service in 2009 to house undocumented immigrants awaiting hearings at the detention facility. As part of that contract, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) paid the Sheriff's Department $82 per detainee a day. According to the Sheriff's Department, an average of 200 people are detained at the jail daily. Through the arrangement, the county annually collects about $6 million, netting a profit of $3 million, according to the Sheriff's Department website. In early June, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted not to renew a five-year-old contract with ICE that housed detainees at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove. We applaud these efforts to continue ending these contracts which criminalize members from our community.

Racially, these are trying times that weigh on our hearts, minds, and spirits. For Black people in particular, incident after incident, including the killing of Stephon Clark, along with constant negative social media, witnessing the pain, anguish, loss of life, and managing personal fears for the safety and well being of our families and communities can cause race-based trauma. Self-care is absolutely essential in times of racial stress and anxiety and so is community-care.

Coming together in community can provide some sense of safety in this increasingly hostile world. This community healing circle will create a safe space in which Black people can unburden themselves; share their feelings, concerns, fears, and hopes; understand the root causes of their challenges; and work on personal and community healing. It will provide strength for the journey ahead and is a visible sign of our turning to each other for comfort, support, wisdom, and love; a sign of our commitment to take care of ourselves and each other.

If you identify as a person of African ancestry and have been impacted by the police shooting, register for this free event. Join local African American mental health providers, faith leaders from Sacramento Area Congregations Together and Unity of Sacramento, educators and community members at this Safe Black Space Community Healing Circle.

For more information, contact Dr. Kristee Haggins at safeblackspace@gmail.com; visit  www.safeblackspace.org; or call (530) 683-5101.

This Safe Black Space Community Healing Circle is hosted by Potters House COGIC and sponsored by the Sierra Health Foundation.