MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Doran Schrantz, ISAIAH – Ph: 612 221 4911
Saket Soni, New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice – Ph: 504 881 6610
Congressman Ellison Joins Day-Long Fast for Survivors of Trafficking Detained By ICE; 29 Pastors Also Join Fast
Workers to fast in federal custody; Bishop Craig Johnson will also join fast for their release from ICE detention.
On Wednesday, December 17, US Congressman Keith Ellison (MN) and leaders of Minnesota’s religious communities will embark on a day-long fast to pressure Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release survivors of trafficking detained in Fargo, North Dakota.
“I join my friends in the faith community in solidarity with the survivors of trafficking detained by ICE. We do so to bring attention to their plight and ask for their immediate release,” Congressman Keith Ellison said. Close to 30 pastors have joined the fast, which will start at 2 pm today, Wednesday, December 17, 2008. They include Lutheran Bishop Craig Johnson.
The workers detained by ICE are now in Cass County Jail, in Fargo, ND. They will be fasting inside federal custody and engage in continuous prayer for 24 hours. The Congressman and pastors will join the Indian survivors of trafficking in their fast.
The workers were trafficked from India to the post-Katrina Gulf Coast. They escaped forced labor and involuntary servitude earlier this year. They were were targeted in a terrifying ICE raid in Fargo, North Dakota, on October 28, 2008. On the day of the fast they will have spent over 50 days in federal custody.
What: Survivors of human trafficking targeted by ICE to fast in federal custody in Fargo, ND. Congressman Ellison and religious leaders will join the fast to pray for their release from ICE detention.
When: The fast will start on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 2 pm. The fast will end on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 4 pm. Religious leaders will hold a press conference on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 2:30 pm in front of the Federal Building in Minneapolis.
Who: Congressman Keith Ellison; Survivors of trafficking targeted by ICE and detained in Fargo, ND; Religious leaders and clergy in Minneapolis/St. Paul; ISAIAH; New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice; Workers’ Interfaith Network; AFL-CIO of Minnesota
