You know things are bad when religious leaders are speaking up about the ongoing events in the United States (U.S.) right now.
Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire (NH) attended a vigil honoring Renee Good last month, where he called for fellow clergy members to prepare for a “new era of martyrdom,” according to the Associated Press (AP).
Good was fatally shot while behind the wheel of her vehicle by a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer last month in Minneapolis.
A video of her death spread immediately across social media platforms, where it is unfortunately clear as day that Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent, shot her in cold blood. He even went as far as calling her a “f***ing b***h.”
President Donald Trump, of course, has already started justifying Ross’s actions. He claims Good attempted to run over Ross and he told reporters aboard Air Force One, “At a very minimum, that woman was very, very disrespectful to law enforcement,” according to the New York Times.
Trump considers himself a Christian yet continues to ignore what is considered the second greatest commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Mind you, the phrase “love thy neighbor” appears many times throughout the Bible.
Hirschfeld gave a speech at the vigil referencing historical clergy members who put their life on the line to protect others. He made a point to mention NH seminary student Jonathan Daniels, “Who was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy in Alabama while shielding a young Black civil rights activist in 1965,” according to AP.
“I have told the clergy of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire that we may be entering into that same witness,” Hirschfeld said. “And I’ve asked them to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies, to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”
“Those of us who are ready to build a new world, we also have to be prepared,” Hirschfield continued. “If we truly want to live without fear, we cannot fear even death itself, my friends.”
It gives me hope to see religious leaders speaking up, but it also scares me. Truthfully, every day of our current administration has brought me all kinds of emotion – anger, disgust, fear and sadness. I’ve got almost all of the “Inside Out” emotions except joy, which simply sucks and I’m sure many Americans can relate.
I wish I could say maybe a clergy member could be the person to finally convince Trump he is wrong in many ways, but at this point I don’t think anything or anyone could change his mind.
Other clergy members in the U.S. have also spoken up since the increase of ICE violence.
“‘In Minnesota, Rt. Rev. Craig Loya urged people not to meet “hatred with hatred” but instead focus on love in “a world obviously not fine,”’ reported AP.
“We are going to make like our ancient ancestors, and turn the world upside down by mobilizing for love,” he said. “We are going to disrupt with Jesus’ hope. We are going agitate with Jesus’ love.”
Unlike Trump, religious leaders are not supporting violence, but instead calling for love and solidarity.
Good is not the first person to suffer at the hands of ICE and she is already not the last.
It is clear no one is truly safe from the Trump administration’s wrath, but I encourage Americans to use their voice regardless. A tyrannical government didn’t stop the American Revolution in the 1700s and it will not stop a revolution today.
Madelyn Marabella can be contacted at
mmarabella@kscequinox.com
