Illegal immigrant detentions, deportations to be protested during four-day walk

The four-day walk will end at Strafford County House of Correction in Dover. (Courtesy photo)

MANCHESTER - New Hampshire faith leaders announced today that they plan to trek from Manchester to Dover in a four day "Solidarity Walk for Immigrant Justice" beginning on Aug 22.
Father Samuel Fuller, OFM, Cap, a Franciscan Friar serving at St. Anne-St. Augustin of Manchester, said the starting and ending point of the trip are nomt coincidental.
"Our walk will mirror the trip an immigrant who is detained by ICE takes from the Federal Building to the Dover Jail and possible deportation," Fuller said. "Sadly, this is a journey several of our parishioners have already made in shackles and in fear."
The Solidarity Walk is being planned by the many faith groups that have held prayer vigils outside the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester, over the past year. Walkers will gather at 9 a.m. at St. Anne-St Augustin for a prayer service, walk to the ICE building and from there will begin their four-day trek.
The Solidarity Walk will pass through the towns of Auburn, Candia, Epping, Lee, Raymond, Madbury and Dover. Rev. Jason Wells, executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, said that walkers expect to walk about 11 miles each day.
Each evening the Solidarity Network will host informational meetings and presentations in towns along the route. The walk will with conclude with a prayer service and vigil outside the Stafford County Jail in Dover.
Eva Castillo, Vice President of the Granite State Organizing Project said, "Many do not understand the forces that drive people to flee their homelands, the complexities of the immigration system or the hardships faced by migrants; we hope to have positive and productive conversations with Granite Staters of all political persuasions along our journey."
Clergy and lay leaders from multiple faith traditions as well as immigration activists from across New Hampshire are expected to participate.