Yesterday I had the pleasure of delivering several of your prayer flags to Gov. Brown’s office.

It was a very small thing – dressing up in robe and stole, sheparding baskets of prayer flags and cards from people around the state collected by PICO through security, standing in front of the bear guarded by California Highway Patrol Officers and praying for compassion and trust to grow in our communities.

The TRUST Act sits on Gov. Brown’s desk, and no one knows which way he will go on it.  “Secure Communities” or S-Comm as it is known to many has taken a toll on immigrant communities who are now scared to call the police in cases of violent crime for fear of attracting attention to family members who don’t have documentation to be in this country.  Even if they are victims!  The TRUST Act would bring back discretion into law enforcement’s hands about who is held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing people without criminal records to avoid disappearing into an immigration detention system funded by taxpayers, where private prison corporations are getting rich.  Please call Gov. Brown at (916) 445-2841 if you read this before Sept. 30, and ask him to pass the TRUST Act if you haven’t already.   It may take some persistence to get through.

Perhaps one of the coolest parts of yesterday was feeling part of this UUCB community as I looked over prayer flags tie died by our youth, walked with Revs. Jay Atkinson and Craig Scott, and thought of Natalie DaSilva and Linda Jackson leading our immigration effort and West County Detention Center vigils.  We all do our parts, and we really can make a change!  The Detention Center Vigils are changing to give resources to people visiting.  California may be the first state to enact laws that address S-Comm’s dragnet that scoops up all in its path and tears apart families.  Your prayers and calls make a difference!