On Friday, May 10, a gathering commemorating the fifth anniversary of the immigration raid at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville will take place in Cedar Rapids. The purpose of the event is to remember the 389 persons who were arrested on May 12, 2008; to reconcile with those who contributed to the injustices, and to advocate for the reform of immigration policies.
The event will begin at noon with a remembrance ritual at the park across from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, 111 Seventh Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.
A “Walk for Justice” will follow at 12:30 p.m. to Immaculate Conception Church, 857 Third Ave. SE. There an interfaith prayer for reconciliation and a call for reform of immigration policies will take place at 1:15 p.m. The assembly is being planned by a wide coalition of those involved in the response to the raid as well as those affected. It will include immigrants, who were part of the 2008 raid, church representatives who ministered to the immigrants and their families, lawyers who saw the injustice of the system, and others who are concerned about immigration reform.
For more information, contact Rockne Cole at rocknecole@gmail.com or (319) 358-1900 or Sister Mary McCauley, BVM, at mmccauley@bvmcong.org or (563) 583-8989.
