Updates, Learning, and Thanks from PPF

A Message from Executive Director Rev. Emily Brewer Did you breathe a sigh of relief on Wednesday? Me too. I came back to work on January 4, after nine weeks of parental leave, hoping to ease back into things. Two days later I watched CNN as far-right Trump supporters breached the capitol with weapons and hatred, making clear once again that white supremacy and fascism are deadly. I breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday at the close of the inauguration and again the next day when I got the alerts that Biden had sent the immigration reform to congress that he promised. And yet we all know we have so much work still to do. This administration has the potential to enact the most progressive, most human-rights agenda of any presidential administration in the history of the US, but only with organizing and accountability from the grassroots.  The fact that the inauguration fell the same week that we honor the anti-racist, anti-capitalist, anti-war legacy of Dr. King reminds us that our work continues until there is no more war or violence, until Dr. King's vision is realized. In PPF, we know that our role is to follow the lead of those most directly impacted by overt violence (like police brutality and war) and structural violence (like poverty, systemic racism, and more) and to work with other people of faith to make change in our communities and nation. We will continue this work, as we have for the past 77 years, through active and creative nonviolence.  Currently, we are still in our deep focus on the call to defund the police, which continues to call us into deep reflection internally about how we do our work as PPF, intentional learning about the history of policing and the church's complicity in white supremacy, and toward taking action in our own congregations and communities. This process of simultaneous reflection, learning, and action is part of the work of nonviolent social change. We exhale relief and we breathe in strength and courage for the work before us. As our Colombian partners say, seguimos adelante.  Update from Accompaniment Coordinator Alison Wood While we still cannot be physically present with our dear friends in Colombia and Agua Prieta, we are still in touch to send support and care. A COVID surge in Colombia in December meant that holiday celebrations were all virtual. The coronavirus pandemic only complicates the already tense situation.. Folks there have shared concern and anxiety over the massacres that have been increasing in some regions, with a government response of sending armed forces to "see what has been happening." The involvement of the government brings more uncertainty and danger. We ask for continued prayers for our friends in the IPC (Presbyterian Church of Colombia) and for all human rights leaders and defenders of peace in Colombia. In Agua Prieta, our friends at CAME (Center for Migrant Care "Exodus") share that they are hosting fewer asylum seekers, but are seeing large groups of people being deported to Agua Prieta again -- often more than 50 people daily. You can find updates from CAME directly on their Facebook page, and updates from the Migrant Resource Center (where accompaniers in Agua Prieta have also served) on their page.  We are working to discern how we can continue to support humanitarian aid in Agua Prieta even during this pandemic. In the meantime, please pray for the folks there, both those working to support people in transit and those who find themselves in Agua Prieta after interactions with the U.S. government. One development on the border on Thursday (January 21) was the announcement from the Department of Homeland Security that no new people will be enrolled in the "Migrant Protection Protocols" and returned to Mexico to wait for their asylum case to be reviewed in dangerous conditions. This is something to celebrate, even as we get back to work! We expect that there will be many more advocacy opportunities in this first season of a new US Presidential Administration. Those opportunities, including virtual marches supporting asylum seekers and Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia, will be shared as they develop. Thank you for continuing to care, pray, and pay attention in love. Presbyterian Abolitionist History Event On January 13 we hosted David Staniunas from the Presbyterian Historical Society to tell us about the history of the PC(USA)'s stance on abolition. It was a sobering look at our church's complicity in the sin of slavery and the recording of the program is now available for all to watch and share. Thank You for Your Donations We are happy to announce that we did reach our goal of $70,000 raised during our Advent 2020 campaign, thanks entirely to you. Our work is entirely funded by individuals and congregations like you and we are grateful that you make this work possible. Presbyterian Peace Fellowship 845-786-6743 | presbypeacefellowship.org Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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