US activists arrested for Christmas campaign against the Grinch

US activists arrested for Christmas campaign against the Grinch

-22/12/05

Last week 11

US activists arrested for Christmas campaign against the Grinch

-22/12/05

Last week 114 American Christian social activists ñ evangelicals, Catholics and mainline Protestants ñ were arrested for trying publicly to invite politicians who voted through swingeing cuts for the poor to meet with those worst effected.

ìThese are political choices being made that are hurting low-income people,î said Jim Wallis, the event’s organizer and founder of Sojourners and Call to Renewal. “Don’t make them the brunt of your deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility.î

Led by Wallis, national faith leaders, clergy and faith-based providers of services to the poor held a press conference.

Following the press conference the leaders kneeled in prayer, blocking the entrance to the Cannon House Office Building on the corner of Independence and New Jersey Avenues.

The Capitol Police began arresting the participants after warning them three times to move from the entrance. The participants were escorted one at a time into one of two Metro buses transported to a Capitol Police warehouse facility at 67 K St., SW (South Capitol and K Street) where they were processed and released after paying a fine.

They wanted to emphasise the true spirit of Christmas for the human family, rather than the tinsel and political wrangling over ëYuletide bansí which has preoccupied much of the media.

One of the accounts Ekklesia has received is from Stanley Campbell, executive director of Rockford Urban Ministries in Illinois ñ and spokesperson for the Rockford Peace and Justice network. He writes:

The real Christmas scandal this year is not the controversy at shopping malls about saying ìMerry Christmasî or ìHappy Holidays.î The real Christmas scandal is the US budget proposed by the House of Representatives that cuts food stamps, health care, child support, and educational assistance to low-income familiesófurther lowering taxes for the rich while increasing the deficit for our grandchildren.

That was the message a group of Christians brought to the steps of the Congress last week. The day was cold, but the message was clear, as hundreds of people who daily serve the poor got arrested.

After a yearlong effort by people of faith to teach our nationís political leaders ìa budget is a moral document,î 114 were arrested for kneeling in prayer, praying for the poor at the steps of the Cannon House Office Building. The congressmen were not impressed.

The group of faith activists tried to invite members of Congress to meet the people who will be most impacted by their votes on a budget that virtually assaults low-income families. The protesters sounded like a choir (and a good one at that) as they sang Christmas carols while being arrested, handcuffed, put into buses, and taken to a large holding cell roughly a mile away.

Many of those who took part in the prayerful and non-violent civil disobedience were from groups such as the Christian Community Development Association, whose members around the country live and work alongside poor people every day. Their founder, John Perkinsóat 75ówas one of the oldest people arrested. Also arrested was Jim Wallis of Sojourners magazine.

The biblical text they kept repeating at the Capitol Christmas vigil was from the book of Lukeóthe best words ever about the true meaning of the coming of the Christ child. Mary, the mother of Jesus, herself a poor woman from an oppressed race and an occupied country, prophesied in her powerful prayer of thanksgivingóthe Magnificatóabout the Messiah whom she carried in her womb.

ìMy soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.î

Though in Washington, D.C., Mary would be accused of class warfare for uttering such words, they still bear the true meaning of Christmas. And the budget and tax cuts being proposed by House leaders reverse the priorities of Mary. Instead of filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, this budget would fill the rich with good things and send the hungry away empty!

So yesterday, on the House office steps, these Christians tried to put Christ back into Christmas.

The bipartisan Senate budget bill, in contrast, protects low-income families, and yesterday senators passed resolutions vowing not to cut food stamps and Medicaid in the final budget negotiations with the House. They should be thanked and urged to stand firm.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, no matter what you say – please do what God says: help the poor, donít kill, be a peacemaker. And you will make the Baby Jesus happy.

Rockford Urban Ministries is at 623 7th Street, Rockford, IL 61104 USA.

For further details and pictures, see SojoNet’s action page. There is video coverage of the event in the following formats WindowsMedia; RealPlayer; QuickTime or iTunes download.

[Also of seasonal interest on Ekkesia: Put which Christ back into Christmas? (Jonathan Bartley); What on earth are we waiting for? and The case for disorganised religion (Simon Barrow); UK archbishops advocate for a non-shy Christmas; Attack on Royal Mail over Christmas stamps; Britons opt for ethical Christmas gifts; christmas card alternative; Christian aid groups launch virtual gifts for Christmas; 5 steps for a more ethical Christmas; Narnia to be inspiration for Christmas services; Archbishop tackles Tsunami faith controversy in Christmas message; Zimbabwe archbishop will not be silenced; Time to act on injustice says Archbishop of Canterbury (Christmas 2004); Discomfort through the wardrobe (Giles Fraser); Why the Lion isnít safe (Glynn Cardy)]

US activists arrested for Christmas campaign against the Grinch

-22/12/05

Last week 114 American Christian social activists – evangelicals, Catholics and mainline Protestants – were arrested for trying publicly to invite politicians who voted through swingeing cuts for the poor to meet with those worst effected.

‘These are political choices being made that are hurting low-income people,’ said Jim Wallis, the event’s organizer and founder of Sojourners and Call to Renewal. “Don’t make them the brunt of your deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility.’

Led by Wallis, national faith leaders, clergy and faith-based providers of services to the poor held a press conference.

Following the press conference the leaders kneeled in prayer, blocking the entrance to the Cannon House Office Building on the corner of Independence and New Jersey Avenues.

They wanted to emphasise the true spirit of Christmas for the human family, rather than the tinsel and political wrangling over ëYuletide bans’ which has preoccupied much of the media.

One of the accounts Ekklesia has received is from Stanley Campbell, executive director of Rockford Urban Ministries in Illinois – and spokesperson for the Rockford Peace and Justice network. He writes:

The real Christmas scandal this year is not the controversy at shopping malls about saying ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays.’ The real Christmas scandal is the US budget proposed by the House of Representatives that cuts food stamps, health care, child support, and educational assistance to low-income familiesófurther lowering taxes for the rich while increasing the deficit for our grandchildren.

That was the message a group of Christians brought to the steps of the Congress last week. The day was cold, but the message was clear, as hundreds of people who daily serve the poor got arrested.

After a yearlong effort by people of faith to teach our nation’s political leaders ‘a budget is a moral document,’ 114 were arrested for kneeling in prayer, praying for the poor at the steps of the Cannon House Office Building. The congressmen were not impressed.

‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.’

So yesterday, on the House office steps, these Christians tried to put Christ back into Christmas.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, no matter what you say – please do what God says: help the poor, don’t kill, be a peacemaker. And you will make the Baby Jesus happy.

Rockford Urban Ministries is at 623 7th Street, Rockford, IL 61104 USA.

For further details and pictures, see SojoNet’s action page. There is video coverage of the event in the following formats WindowsMedia; RealPlayer; QuickTime or iTunes download.