Photo by Shannon Purvis
The SC Faith Community to Hold Interfaith Prayer Vigils across the State to Reflect on Anti-Immigrant Law, S.B. 20
Sunday, December 18, 2011
South Carolina faith leaders and the faith community will gather at prayer vigils across the state on Sunday, December 18, to call attention to a hearing the following day in U.S. District Court in Charleston, where the U.S. Department of Justice and several civil and human rights organizations are challenging the constitutionality of South Carolina’s anti-immigrant law, SB 20.
SB 20, signed into law in June, encourages racial profiling by allowing law enforcement to investigate the immigration status of anyone they pull over whom they suspect may be in the state illegally.
The prayer vigils will offer reflections on the scriptural support of immigrants, the moral dimensions of the immigration issue, and the real-life consequences of SB 20. The vigils will be held in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Hilton Head.
Organizers of the prayer vigils, led by the South Carolina Immigration Coalition, are calling on the U.S. District Court to overturn SB 20. On Monday, December 19, a rally in opposition to SB 20 will start at Washington Square Park before the hearing and continue outside the U.S. District Courthouse during the hearing.
Charleston Interfaith Service
Who: South Carolina Faith leaders, organized by the South Carolina Immigration Coalition
What: Interfaith SB 20 Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, December 18, 6 pm
Where: Midland Park United Methodist Church (2301 Midland Park Road in North Charleston)
Columbia Interfaith Service
Who: South Carolina Faith leaders, organized by the South Carolina Immigration Coalition
What: Interfaith walk and prayer vigil
When: Sunday, December 18, 1:15 pm
Where: Gather at 1:15 pm at Zion Baptist Church (810 Washington Street, Columbia); Walk to the Statehouse at 1:30 pm for vigil
Greenville Interfaith Service
Who: South Carolina Faith leaders, organized by the South Carolina Immigration Coalition
What: Interfaith SB 20 Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, December 18, 6 pm
Where: Fall Park
Spartanburg Interfaith Service
Who: South Carolina Faith leaders, organized by the South Carolina Immigration Coalition
What: Interfaith SB 20 Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, December 18, 6 pm
Where: Morgan Square on East Main St.
Unity and Peace Rally
Who: South Carolinians who oppose SB 20, organized by the South Carolina Immigration Coalition
What: Rally at Washington Square Park and demonstrate outside U.S. District Courthouse
When: December 19, 9:00 am
Where: Washington Square Park (78 Broad Street, Charleston); Walk over to U.S. District Courthouse (85 Broad Street, Charleston)
Contact:Tammy Besherse – Tammy@scjustice.org
Filed under: Arizona-copycat laws, Deportation, DREAM Act, immigrant community, S.B. 20, South Carolina Tagged: | anti-immigrant law, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Hilton Head, interfaith, prayer vigil, Spartanburg
This is really sad that the people of southcarolina has to pray that there there famlies are not going to be torn a part as well as my on not knowing what to do or where to go this is sad and as a american i think that this law in a failure and makes all the people of south carolina in shame with all the tax money there going to have to pay for this new immigration law this law shouild be blocked every and any part of it this is very racial profiling and is agaist are lord he made us all and there is no such thing as illeagle i pray and have been praying that this law does not destroy my family as well as others and destroy the name of beautiful southcarolina.