April 28, 2008 CW Immigration Protest KC MO

No More Deaths

Chiapas Project

More than 100 people circled at the entrance of the Federal Building in Kansas City, MO, on Monday, April 28, 2008, to protest U.S. immigration policies. Holding a 40-foot banner with panels that read "NO MAS MUERTES POR LA PRONTERA", "NO MORE BORDER DEATHS", "DON'T DEPORT MY NEIGHBORS", and “NO DEPORTA MIS VECINOS," Catholic Workers and friends called for an end to policies that lead to the needless death and suffering of families who try to cross the border seeking economic survival. Most of the protesters also carried wooden crosses bearing the names of those who had died in their attempt to cross. The group began the protest with Ellen Euclide from Su Casa Catholic Worker in Chicago reading a prepared statement decrying the inhumanity of current policies, (see text of statement below) and then staged a "die-in" as some fell to the ground to represent the deaths at our borders. They also called out the names of those who had died.

Within ten minutes, federal marshals arrived and asked the group to move from federal grounds. All but six complied with the order and relocated the protest on the public sidewalk. The six who remained were immediately arrested. They are: Frank Cordaro, 57, Catholic Worker from Des Moines, Iowa; Eric Garbison, 39, Kansas City Catholic Worker (Cherith Brook House); Mike Leutgeb Munson, 25, Catholic Worker from Winona, MN; Jacob Olzen, a peace activist from Roselle, IL; Harold "Halsey" Reynolds IV, 30, Kansas City, KS, Catholic Worker (Shalom House); and Henry Stoever, 59, attorney and peace activist from Overland Park, KS. All six were issued a federal citation and released the same day. They may either pay a $75 fine or appear in court on June 23rd. All are still reviewing their options.