Local Nun Arrested For Protesting Treatment Of Children At Border

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A local nun was one of 70 arrested in Washington, D.C. this week for protesting immigration policy and the "anguished stories" of children at the border.

Sister Mary Beth Moore, who works with immigrants in Hampton Bays through the Centro Corazon de Maria, said she participated in the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children, sponsored by eight Catholic organizations, including the Leadership Conference of Women Religious — a national conference of nuns comprised of more than 200 congregations and more than 17,000 sisters.

Sister Moore, also the chairperson of Neighbors In Support of Immigrants in Hampton Bays, decided to go because, working with immigrants, she said she "knows of many anguished stories of children in detention. When I saw an opportunity to protest in a very dramatic way, why wouldn't I do this? I couldn't think of any reason not to."

The protest, she said, was very well planned; it was the first time she'd participated in an act of civil disobedience.

The event began with a press conference with speakers denouncing the detention of children and expressing the belief that change needs to take shape in the form of giving people the chance to apply for asylum, sending children to safe places, and looking at the "root causes" of the issues, which include the United States' relationship with Central America, Sister Moore said.

The first hour was "framed in prayer," with messages from bishops, and then, the group filed into the Russell Senate Office Building, where the protest took place.

"We were instructed that we would get three warnings from the DC police," Sister Moore said. After that, those that did not wish to be arrested left, but 70, including Sister Moore stayed, with five people lying on the floor to form a cross, a "visually dramatic" symbol, she said. All those that remained were singing and praying, she said.

The police who arrested them handcuffed them, "which was unpleasant," put them in a van and took them to a large building at the station, where they were seated in 10 rows of 7, she said.

The police officers, she said, treated the faith leaders "very well," although while the nuns and parishioners were calm, singing and praying, the police looked "rattled," she said.

At the station, every person arrested was fingerprinted and had to show identification and pay $50. After they were released, protest organizers met them outside with their belongings, including cell phones and wallets, and also provided water and bananas. "They were very supportive," Sister Moore said.

While they were protesting and during the arrests, when they were placed in vans, despite the extreme heat, no one complained, Sister Moore said. "Everyone was in high spirits, talking about our lives and what we wanted to achieve. Everyone was so upbeat and cheerful. It was quite amazing."

Sister Moore said, of the protest, "It was really a very profound experience. This issue is so compelling. I thought, 'What can we do to stop this horrible thing that's happening to children? How can we awake the consciences of our fellow citizens?' This has nothing to do with partisan politics. It has to do with children's basic needs."

Moments that were deeply profound included when the group stood in the rotunda as the names of the children who had died were read and they prayed, saying the "Our Father, " and "Hail Mary," she said. "That was the most touching moment. And then, when the siren came and they said, 'You must leave or you will be arrested,' it was pretty remarkable and dramatic. It was a single experience of solidarity."