Soon after Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, faith leaders in Los Angeles gathered outside the federal building on Saturday to stand with families impacted by ICE violence.
Among them was Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, who told clergy and others that he was troubled by the “ongoing climate of fear and uncertainty” in LA, Minneapolis and across the country.
“We can’t continue like this. We need to stop the violence, the threats of violence, and the hateful, dangerous rhetoric,” Gomez said.
Gomez’s presence at Saturday’s vigil — held as federal immigration raids in LA and recent killings by federal agents in Minneapolis have sparked widespread outrage — came after Boyle Heights Beat reported Catholic leaders and organizers want to see him more actively engaged in protests, vigils and press events. Catholic leadership, one Catholic organizer said, is often absent from interfaith actions.
At the vigil — which was organized by the multifaith organization LA Voice, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and other groups — Gomez spoke about treating one another with respect and dignity.
“Because God created us, our lives are sacred, and we have rights that no one can deny or violate. Those rights come from God, they do not depend on a government decree,” Gomez said
Angel Mortel, a lead organizer with LA Voice, said she was “pleasantly surprised” to see the archbishop out in the street with people as police sirens were heard in the background. This was the second time Gomez attended a vigil organized by LA Voice since the raids started last June, she said.
“I’m sure this was probably a little scary and uncomfortable for him, but acting despite our fear is real courage,” said Mortel, a Catholic parishioner at Dolores Mission in Boyle Heights.
“I pray that his public witness will inspire more Catholic clergy and lay people to get out into the public and be courageous and reclaim a Catholic identity rooted in the Gospels that requires us to love our neighbors and protect human dignity,” Mortel said.
