Unity rally gives voice to human rights for all

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Michael Sciumbato tells the rally that ?justice will rain down from heaven,? and Dee Rowland, Diocesan government liaison, urges them to ?keep speaking out? at the April 10 rally for immigrant rights. IC photos by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — For Catholic activists, the predominant issues of the two-day rallies and marches are not so much immigration rights or rights for Hispanics, they are issues of human rights – the rights all people deserve because all people are made in the image and likeness of God.

When Father Michael Sciumbato, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Provo, took to the podium at Salt Lake City’s City County Building April 10 to represent the ecclesiastical voices, he spoke eloquently about his own family’s experiences as Italian immigrants in the United States.

"They called us WOPs," he told the amassed crowd of 5,000 people. "WOP means ‘without papers.’"

The Monday afternoon rally differed from the previous day’s historic Immigration March. On the National Day of Action on Immigrant Rights, the speakers addressed solutions to the problems faced not only by immigrants, but by everyone who works long hours for low wages, who cannot afford day care for their children, and who are faced with deciding whether to buy needed medicine or food for their families. Speakers encouraged the crowd to educate themselves about the core issues of poverty in America, register to vote, and let their voices be heard.

Rally participants danced, sang, waved signs, and cheered when Rebecca Chavez-Hauck urged them to "join those around the country on the National Day of Action for Immigrant Rights... These issues cannot be ignored in the name of political expedience. Don’t give up hope... We can do so much better... We must continue to work for security, for economic prosperity, and for compassion for all people in this great country."

In a spirited speech, Salt Lake Mayor "Rocky" Anderson urged participants to throw off the shackles of present "hypocritical legislation" that favors the people who benefit from low-paid labor, but offer no benefits to those who actually work for those wages. He encouraged participants to be good neighbors, to support and help each other, and to "create a feeling of appreciation... by urging reform with compassion and care."

Fr. Sciumbato, addressing the crowd in both Spanish and English, spoke to "all people of the Book," and "people of all faiths" to "live out God’s commandment of love; care for the widows, the orphans and the aliens among you."

He told them to love with open hearts all people, in the name of Christ. Assuring those at the rally that the day will come when all Americans will stand together "in the peace and the justice of God."

"These issues are not Latino issues; they are not immigrant issues. They are issues of justice," Fr. Sciumbato said. "The day will come when justice will rain down from heaven. I pray that day will come soon."

Retired Utah Third District Court Judge Raymond Uno, recipient of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession 2005 Spirit of Excellence Inspiration Award, told the touching story of how his father, a decorated World War I veteran, died at the age of 47 in a Japanese internment camp. Judge Uno’s mother, a college graduate who lived and worked in the U.S. for 72 years, "died an alien because she was never allowed to become a citizen."

Judge Uno told the rally that he and other Asian-Americans were behind their crusade for rights, 100 percent. "No one should suffer the fate of my mother."

Dee Rowland, government liaison for the Diocese of Salt Lake City and director of the Diocesan Peace and Justice Commission, thanked participants "for all the sacrifices you have made in getting here today and for your courage in coming together to speak out."

Her statement: "The Scriptures as well as Catholic social teaching form the basis of the Church position (on immigration reform). John 4:19-21 tells us, ‘anyone who says, I love God, and hates his brother, is a liar,’" brought applause and cheers.

Rowland called for legislative reform, including addressing the root causes of immigration, earned legalization and temporary worker programs with protections, and restoration of due process for immigrants.

"We walk with immigrants vibrantly present in our country and ghostly absent from their own," Rowland said. "We need sustainable economic development and fair trade and economic policies which take into account the plight of low-skilled workers. Any advocacy must include the keen awareness that this is not just a national issue. The whole world is groaning with the migration of its people. Our national policy must include this deeper truth – we are one world, one interconnected people."

Bringing the crowd to silence, Rowland closed her speech with a prayer.