Marchers went from from Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral to St. James Cathedral in Seattle to advocate for the children and families impacted by President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy.
Religious leaders Thursday evening said they were tired of having their faith used to justify the separation of migrant families at the southern U.S. border.
Hundreds of people showed up to march from Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral to St. James Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church, in Seattle to advocate for the families caught up in President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which has separated more than 2,000 children from their parents. Trump signed an executive order Wednesday reversing the family-separation policy, but the administration has not made clear how and whether the children currently detained would be reunited with their families.
“There’s no recourse for how they’re going to be returned to their families,” said Rabbi Daniel Weiner, of Temple De Hirsch Sinai.
Those attending the interfaith event packed Saint Mark’s Cathedral with signs denouncing the Trump administration.
One sign had a small girl’s dress pinned to it, with the words “where are the children?” floating above it.
Marla Katz, who made the poster, said the situation was especially hard for her.
Katz, who is Jewish, said there were children in her family who did not survive the Holocaust.
In a brief sermon at Saint Mark’s before the march, the Rev. Nancy Ross said, “Jesus didn’t build walls — he broke them.”
The Seattle Police Department made way for the marchers, who walked the 2 miles from Saint Mark’s on Capitol Hill to St. James, on First Hill, where a candle lighting took place.
In 1942, people also congregated at St. James Cathedral to denounce the internment of Japanese Americans, according to the Very Rev. Michael G. Ryan, pastor of the cathedral.
“Particular concern should be shown to migrant children and their families,” he said, calling the current situation “evil.”