Faith Leaders Rally at Michigan Capitol to Defend Immigrant Dignity
Faith leaders from multiple denominations gathered at Michigan’s Capitol to declare immigration a spiritual obligation, not just politics.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — Faith leaders and advocates gathered at the Michigan State Capitol on Monday to emphasize that immigration is fundamentally a moral and spiritual issue, not merely a political debate.
The rally was sponsored by the Michigan NETWORK for Catholic Social Justice Advocacy team and facilitated in partnership with Lansing’s First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul Episcopal Church, IHM Sisters of Monroe, and Strangers No Longer. Similar events were held simultaneously in Monroe and Grand Rapids.
Prayer Walk to Capitol
Participants began their demonstration with a walk from First Presbyterian Church of Lansing to the front lawn of the Capitol Building. Once there, five faith leaders addressed the crowd, each drawing on their religious beliefs and values to speak about immigration policy and treatment of immigrants.
Rev. Elijah Burton, minister at First Christian Church of Lansing, highlighted the spiritual foundations underlying immigration concerns. “The Bible contains many commands, but one of them appears again and again: ‘Remember the Stranger.’ For me, that means that concern for immigrants and refugees is not a political first. It is a spiritual issue,” Burton said.
Moral Obligation Focus
The event organizers framed the gathering as a response to increasingly harsh rhetoric surrounding immigration policy. Faith leaders aimed to refocus the conversation on what they characterized as moral and spiritual obligations toward immigrants and refugees.
The rally represented a coordinated effort across multiple Michigan communities, with the Lansing demonstration serving as one of three simultaneous events held throughout the state. The multi-denominational coalition included Catholic, Presbyterian, and Episcopal organizations working together to advocate for immigrant dignity.
Statewide Advocacy Effort
The Michigan NETWORK for Catholic Social Justice Advocacy team served as the primary sponsor of the coordinated events. The organization partnered with local religious institutions to organize the prayer walk and rally format used in each participating city.
The timing of the rally coincided with ongoing national debates over immigration policy and enforcement. Faith leaders used their platform to advocate for treating immigration as a humanitarian concern rooted in religious teachings about welcoming strangers and protecting vulnerable populations.
The demonstration concluded after all five speakers had addressed the crowd on the Capitol lawn, with participants having walked from the downtown church to the government building as part of their advocacy effort.
