Pilgrimage Marks Holy Week, Immigration Debate

On a bright humid day this week in Lilburn, a group of Latino residents gathered in front of Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Mission on Lawrenceville Highway to begin a journey in spiritual fortitude and cultural awareness.

A wooden cross led the way as men, women and children of all ages, many armed with rosaries, walked through the community to participate in the third annual Holy Week Pilgrimage for Immigrants.

The event marked the beginning of La Semana Santa, or Holy Week, and coincided with many feel is the struggle for Latino equality in Georgia and around the nation.

“We want to see the beloved community,” said Anton Flores-Maisonet, head of the pilgrimage. Flores, who founded Alterna, a LaGrange-based immigrant-serving ministry, initiated the idea for the pilgrimage after being inspired by the success of the Civil Rights movement and its non-violent practices.

He said that the goal of the event is to demonstrate acts of love in an effort to cast out fear and foster understanding of the Latino immigrant population, especially among legislators.

“We do anything but welcome the stranger [in America],” he said.

The pilgrimage began on Palm Sunday in communities in North Georgia and will culminate on Good Friday in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change in downtown Atlanta.

Hundreds of people are expected to participate and the event has received support from the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition and the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.

Organizers (GALEO) say the significance of this year’s pilgrimage is heightened after the Georgia General Assembly passed a controversial immigration bill, similar to Arizona’s law. A Senate vote of 37-19 and a House vote of 112-59 late last Thursday, sent the legislation to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk to be signed.

Opponents of the bill argue that the bill would hurt Georgia’s economy, specifically the agriculture sector, and could initiate human rights violations. Among several provisions in the bill is an E-Verify requirement for most companies to check the immigrant status of potential hires.

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of GALEO, said that the new legislation was extremist and noted that there was significant opposition from the business community over the bill.

He said that the pilgrimage served as “a positive expression for people to draw upon their faith and exercise sentiment in the current situation.”

Faith played a major part in the pilgrimage. Flores coordinated with local churches and faith-based groups to organize the week’s events. Just as the church is the center of the African American community and the Civil Rights movement, said Flores, it made sense to tap into the Latino community’s deep spiritual roots.

“We were looking for a way for the Church to authentically be the Church,” said Flores.

Tuesday’s walk lasted eight miles. The group stopped occasionally for breaks at local Latino-owned businesses and ate lunch at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Norcross. The pilgrimage culminated in front of Santa Fe Mall in Duluth across from Gwinnett Place Mall.

Despite the blazing heat, patrons moved steadfast, singing spiritual hymns and praising adorations to Christ. It was peaceful and contemplative, as Flores had mentioned at the start of the pilgrimage. Drivers honked their horns and people waved from the street.

Flores reflected on the event saying, “There is darkness in our midst and unjust suffering, but there is hope.”