This week, I thought I’d share an email from North Parish and Veterans for Peace member Pat Scanlon who went to Biddeford, Maine after the killing of Joan (or Johan) Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 25, on July 13 by ICE officers who racially profiled him. This followed the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, in Houston, Texas, on July 7. Pat shared some more details about their experience in Biddeford at the one-year anniversary stand out at the Duck Bridge in Lawrence on Thursday, including that 15 people driving by held up their middle fingers towards those holding vigil and protesting this extrajudicial killing. In the midst of a politics of death which is somehow supported by some people of faith, our faith is one that upholds and aligns with life, the creative spirit of life, the god of life, the amazing forces of life- even in the midst of death. Here are Pat’s words:
A large gathering started at the park off Main Street at 12:00 noon. I was told about 1,000 people. They walked to Senator Collins office a few blocks away. She was not there. The group then returned to the park.
My wife Connie and I arrived at the park about 1:00 PM. There was a smaller group of 100 – 200 people there for the afternoon. Protesters kept coming and going all afternoon. We stayed with them for four hours, then had to return to Massachusetts. We met up with two other vets and were with them for most of the time. At 7:00 PM there was a planned vigil. A lot of press had gathered of that event.
Since the creation of ICE over 60 people have either died on the streets or in ICE custody. Joan and Lorenzo (Texas) were gunned down by ICE agents in just the past week. All veterans should stand up against these masked thugs. May all victims of ICE rest in peace – Presente.
Pat