Happy holidays, ICOM supporters. I hope that you will have time to gather with your family and neighbors even as we make plans to protect our immigrant families and neighbors in 2025. Watch our YouTube “Vigils” playlist to see the recording of last Tuesday’s powerful vigil hosted by COPAL. Here is your Call to Action for the month. Please take action to support the Firewall for Freedom campaign and stand with immigrants before the holidays!
1. Call on Governor Walz to take executive action to protect immigrant Minnesotans before the Trump administration can launch its deportation campaign. ACLU Minnesota has outlined executive actions that he can take to protect our neighbors in its “Firewall for Freedom” document.
* Make a phone call: Office of Gov Tim Walz – 651-201-3400 (see attached script)
* Send an email: bit.ly/nsa-email-action
* Sign the petition: bit.ly/nsa-petition-action
All the online tools and more can be found here: bit.ly/toolkit2protect
2. Join ICOM visits to the Governor’s office this week, December 16 – 20! We will be stopping by this week to encourage Governor Walz to act boldly to protect our neighbors. Here are upcoming visits coordinated by ICOM congregations and leaders. Please join us before his staff leaves for the holidays!
* 10 am, Tuesday, December 17 – Lumen Christi Catholic Community. Contact John Benda at 651-269-9685 with questions!
* 2:30 pm, Thursday, December 19 – St Joan of Arc Catholic Community. Gather in the rotunda at 2 pm. Contact Greg King atgreg.king.family@gmail.com with questions!
* 10 am, Friday, December 20 – Plymouth Congregational Church. Contact Tom Haigh at jthaigh45@gmail.com with questions!
3. Help plan ICOM’s next fundraiser. Contact John at johnbenda@comcast.net if you are willing to be help us hold a fun and inspiring event in the spring.
4. ICOM AID needs blankets and winter coats for women that are warm enough for January temperatures! Contact Patti to arrange dropoff atpaklucas@gmail.com.
5. Attend a screening of “The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero” at 2 pm on Sunday, Jan. 19th at Plymouth Congregational Church. Cohosted by St. Joan of Arc, the Basilica of St. Mary’s, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet , the film will be followed with a discussion by Michelle McKenzie from the Advocates for Human Rights. Bring a friend who is willing to learn about the reality of an immigrant’s journey.