Understanding Forced Migration
Earlier this month, the Council held a forum entitled Understanding Forced Migration, in which a historical account of migration was given, connecting us to the current stories of migrants in Seattle and the United States. Community members packed the room to hear the testimonies of Daniel, Adriana, and Don (above left), through a panel facilitated by Flor, one of our members of Grupo de Solidaridad who frequently supports our work through Spanish-English interpretation. This forum marks the beginning of Grupo's public strategy for immigration organizing, educating the community on the realities of what migrant communities are facing today.
Through this forum, our speakers shared how they were forced to leave their countries of origin for different reasons, all of them so serious that their lives were in mortal danger. Their stories of resilience and community organizing in their home countries turned to shock once they arrived to find that Washington state, King County, and the city of Seattle often claim "welcome" in word but not in deed.
Finally, a call was made to those attending the forum and to the U.S. government to continue supporting the migrant community and the search for true inclusion in society. The speakers invited attendees to continue supporting migrants through:
Sponsoring recent migrants, particularly families with children
Challenging racist jokes, stereotypes or prejudices, and learning about cultural differences
Continuing to learn about the different ways to support the integration of migrants into society in order to reduce marginalization
Additionally, some of the attendees of the forum who represent each of these communities thanked the significant contribution of the Church Council in their reception process, support with housing, and in the follow-up of their cases. Stay tuned for another community event in December to learn intimately about the immigration process, the injustices that migrants face through their journeys, and how we can follow the leadership of migrants towards justice.