The following remarks were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland at a press conference and rally on May 26 at 2 p.m. to oppose potential ICE detention expansion.
I greet you on behalf of the North Carolina Council of Churches, representing 19 denominations in this state with congregations in big places like the triangle and crossroads many of us have never heard of. At the Council we don’t pretend to be objective; we don’t pretend to represent a variety of opinions. We refract the issues of the day through the prophetic voice of the Old Testament and the gospel proclamation of the New Testament. As one baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith, my allegiance is first and foremost to that place. And from that place, immigration is clearly framed as a call to hospitality.
The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself . . . (Leviticus 19:33-34). It’s in the Bible; look it up. Book of Leviticus, chapter 19.
When the forces of the world conspire to harm the ones to whom we are called to show hospitality, we are expected to protect them. And when federal law enforcement brings their sinful behavior within the borders of our state, they are interfering with my first amendment freedom of religion rights. My religion calls me to welcome the immigrants and serve my neighbors. The Constitution tells me I have a right to do that. Nowhere in either of those guiding principles is there a suggestion we should lock up people who have done nothing wrong. Nowhere in either of those guiding principles is there permission to stand by silently and let it happen.
The fake news that only people who immigrated here from western Europe can be trusted, conveniently leaves out the truth that those early European immigrants perpetrated genocide against those who welcomed them and then captured people from another continent and enslaved them to compound their own wealth. And the descendants of those immigrants want to suggest that people who didn’t come here and annihilate one population and enslave another population are somehow dangerous.
All of the Council’s 19 denominational members foster hospitality for immigrants and, when necessary, protection for those who have been wrongly called dangerous by those who are actually dangerous because of their disregard for human rights, constitutional rights, and due process.
We are here today along with a coalition of interfaith leaders and justice minded organizations to go on record that this is not the North Carolina we live in, nor the country for that matter, but today our guise is on our state. We know there are leaders in this building, in the executive branch, and in the judiciary who can stand with us. After this press conference, we will deliver a letter to each of them laying out in specific ways our expectations that they will join us and say, “No. No, this will not happen on our watch, in our state.”
Welcome the immigrants. Treat them as citizens in your midst.
