Winchester Walks in Solidarity with Minnesota, immigrant neighbors

As snow fell on Feb. 7, more than 100 people gathered at the Griffith Museum to walk to Crawford Memorial Church in a show of solidarity with immigrants amid nationwide ICE raids, arrests and deportations.

“Winchester in Solidarity: Walking With Our Neighbors” was organized by the political activism group IndivisibleWin, the Network for Social Justice (NFSJ), and local faith leaders and community members to show support for immigrants, due process, democracy and community.

Communities across the country have planned events and demonstrations in support of the Twin Cities, which have seen frequent clashes between residents and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, and the arrests of thousands of immigrants.

Rebecca Slisz, executive director of NFSJ, received emails and texts from faith leaders and community members suggesting she organize something. Ultimately, an email from Lily Werner, a Winchester High School student who had interned at NFSJ, was the final push to start organizing.

“It just felt like the right time to do something visible in Winchester to show our concern for what is happening,” Slisz said.

The crowd was given candles and pamphlets before leaving around 4 p.m. to walk to the first stop, the First Congregational Church.

During the walk, participants held signs with phrases such as “Ice Makes for a Slippery Slope,” “ICE and DHS Out of Massachusetts” and “When Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty.” Many had come to show their frustration about the Trump administration’s actions in Minneapolis and around the country. 

“Given all the chaos at the federal level, I think it’s important that we think about what we can do locally,” said John Bellaire, a candidate for School Committee.

Others had joined the walk for the connection with their community members and speak with a collective voice.

“This is one of the few times we have the opportunity to speak as a community,” said Sue Doubler, an associate professor teaching science education at Lesley University.

Once the crowd reached the church, there was a brief intermission with remarks from faith leaders and community members, and a musical performance from Cantor Beth Levin, who sang and played guitar. Attendees sang along to “Hold On,” a new protest song written by Minneapolis singer-songwriter Heidi Wilson, and “This Little Light of Mine.”

The speeches emphasized the importance of supporting Winchester’s immigrant neighbors.

“We will walk in solidarity with immigrants and all those who demand to be governed by laws,” said Bruce Alexander, a First Congregational Church member who took to the podium.

The walk ended with another set of remarks from the faith leaders of Crawford Memorial Church, before attendees were encouraged to join the church for its annual chili cook-off, which benefits New England Justice for Our Neighbors, an organization offering free legal aid to immigrants seeking humanitarian-based visas.

As people started to file out of the church pews, they passed a memorial listing the names of people who were killed by ICE agents and placed their candles in front of it.

“We’re here for you,” Silsz said. “There are people in Winchester, community members, town stakeholders who care.”

Tavishi Chattopadhyay is a journalism student at Boston University. This story is part of a partnership between Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.