In February, San Antonio pastor Dianne Garcia led a multi-day, 90-mile peace walk across South Texas in solidarity with children and families detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I had the honor of joining Pastor Dianne for the final leg of her journey, marching across San Antonio with hundreds of people who had gathered from across the country to demand freedom for families and an end to family detention.
As we walked, we chanted, “Kids do not belong in cages!” We sang songs about liberation, and how—as James Baldwin famously wrote—”all of the children are always ours.” At times, we held silence, praying with our feet and holding detained children and families in our hearts.
Our march was a political action, a spiritual practice, a grief ritual, a block party, and a walking love letter to our communities, all rolled into one. Along our route, members of the local community came out to the road to wave, pray, offer us water and food, and express their support. It was a powerful experience that left me feeling deeply connected to the people around me. As an advocate, I found myself thinking afterward: We need more experiences like these.
