On the concrete, dirty sidewalk of Los Angeles Street in Downtown LA, we hear un clamor a Dios in the distance. We see various picket signs of the words, “¡Libertad! Free Them All! Stop Separating Families!” Holding these signs, echoes the voices of various women, Latinas, shouting and praying in their native tongue, the English language, and in the Spirit con el don de lenguas. In unison a mother, wife, and daughter protest through their defiant praise and lament en danza con el Espíritu Pentecostés.
Among them, suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole streets where they encamped. The women began to shout and proclaim,
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,
for the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that the captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.” (Isaiah 61:1 NLT)
In protest, they rebuked the immorality and senselessness of the unjust law that has taken away their husbands, fathers and sons. “Free my husband! Free my father! Free my son!” they cried. Holding the tension between pain and hope just as the Son of God did on the cross, these women fast, lament, and intercede in the streets of Los Angeles. Living, breathing, and walking with the violence done to their familias, they tell us a story of their protest and dance with the Holy Spirit.
El sistema de inmigración has wreaked havoc, torn apart families that the Lord himself has created, and scarred hearts and minds with trauma. How could such a system and its detention centers be a place of God? These women object, discerning that this is not the work of the Spirit, this is death! The Spirit groans, grieves, sings, and comforts them in this moment.
In the midst of this chaos, they are not alone. Dios está aquí con ellas. With the touch of the Holy Spirit, cuando levantan sus manos, comienzan a sentir el fuego. The fire that empowers them to move, shake and sing, "Las cadenas han sido rotas!" The Holy Spirit is their catalyst, grounding force, advocate, peace, joy, and freedom all in one.
In the distance we see a danza con El Espiritu Santo protesting and it will not stop until there is libertad para todos.
This post was dedicated to the "LA Hunger Strike/Fast for Detainees" that began on September 30 and ended on October 3, 2020 in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building of Downtown Los Angeles, California. Families, mothers, and wives collaborated with local organizations to complete this 5 day event on behalf of the recent Covid-19 outbreaks in the ICE Adelanto Detention Center placing detained loved ones at risk. I would like to ask that you continue praying for all the families currently affected in this time. I would also like to honor the hermanas who led this event with protest in the Spirit :
Jael Serrano Altamirano
Debbie Gomez
Leonor Gomez
and many more
Translations
un clamor a Dios : a plea before God
libertad : freedom
el don de lenguas : the gift of speaking in tongues
en danza con el Espíritu Pentecostés : in movement/dance with the Pentecost Spirit
las mujeres : the women
el sistema de inmigración : the immigration system
Dios está aquí con ellas : God is here with these women
cuando levantan sus manos, comienzan a sentir el fuego : when they lift their hands, they feel the fire of the Holy Spirit
las cadenas han sido rotas : the chains have been broken
libertad para todos : freedom for all