It started with the question I was asking myself and my friends, what can we do to highlight the unfair separation of children from parents? And a realization of personal conviction that “no child should go to bed without a parent or loved one to tuck them in at night.” This came to my mind after attending an April 2018 conference held by the Unitarian Universalists United Nations Office, “A Just Migration for All,” where I learned  ten thousand or more migrant children remain separated from their parents or families in government detention facilities.

The immediate answer was a manifestation of my concern at my congregation UU Congregation of Columbia MD. My friends and I hung up children’s pajamas, to call attention to the fact that the government is violating a decades-old, court-approved agreement that migrant children should not be detained for more than 20 days and must be released to their parents or a family member.

With that success and encouragement, now I am asking UUs to help further this call by joining us June 9, 2019 on the National Mall. Consider organizing a delegation from your church or congregation.  If you can’t make it to the Mall please organize a similar pajama display locally.

Donate pajamas, you can do this by contacting hocoimmigration@gmail.com to arrange a pick-up for larger donations or you can mail them to UUCC Social Justice, Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia MD 21045-5054.  Consider aggregating your efforts and making this a youth project of your congregation, perhaps organized through your religious or intergenerational education programs.

Offer sermons and religious education programing on the topic and let us know that you are doing so. Refer us for helpful partnerships, help us get connected to other supporters and contacts. Post to our Facebook page to show support and updates on your efforts so we know and feel that participants are part of a growing movement.

Make financial contributions. Help us to fund this project with contributions through gofundme. We have an estimated cost of $3,000 for June 9 and are seeking support.

Here is what my friends and I have planned for the Where Are the Children Campaign, as part of International Children’s Day on June 9, 2109.

Our national project is a statement of our concern, often referred to as a witness action. Modeled after the AIDS quilt of a previous generation, we envision hundreds of pairs of children’s pajamas hung on a clotheslines on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. representing all the children separated from their families.  The event takes place all day on June 9 between 12th and 14th Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.

After the first effort at UU Congregation of Columbia MD, my minister, the Rev. Paige Getty, signaled our congregation’s support with a sermon on “Just Migration for All.” Shortly afterwards, Indivisible Howard County, part of a nationwide progressive movement to preserve American democracy, asked us if they could help elevate this project to national attention with a planned artistic display on the National Mall like the AIDS quilt.

The goal of this next phase is to raise awareness of the lost, separated and detained children held by the Department of Health and Human Services, Customs and Border Control. And to move beyond one congregation, one county, one community.

I believe the separation and detention of children is traumatic and should be stopped immediately.  Instead, our government should make reuniting these families a top priority. And the impact of hundreds of pajamas hanging together, with large banners proclaiming, “Where Are the Children?” and “Don’t Separate Families,” will be powerful.  We hope it will inspire people to demand justice for these families. We also hope that any family separated will see, and hear, that there are people who care.

Please help us with pajama donations.  The more pajamas we can gather, the more rows we can add. The more powerful the visual impact and statement of concern.

After June 9 on the National Mall, we’ll offer this project as a traveling display. Would your church or congregation like to host a showing? If so contact us at hocoimmigration@gmail.com.  If you organize your own display on June 9, 2019, hang children’s pajamas on clotheslines; upload your photos via our facebook page at with the sponsors and organizers. Let us show how UUs want to stop this unconscionable practice.

Join us in demanding justice for these children, these families.

 

Lift your voice, live your values!

Alex Kohn

High School Student

Oakland Mills High School, MD

Member of UU Congregation of Columbia, MD

————-

Alex Kohn, is an 11th grade student at Oakland Mills High School, interested in Environmental Science, Engineering, and Sustainability. Son of Richard Kohn and Tammy Spengler,  brother of Gavin Kohn. Alex runs track, teaches swim lessons, and plays saxophone in his free time. He has a deep commitment to challenging inequities. Last year as Co-President of the Young Democrats Club he hosted a Howard County Council debate, and is Co-President again this year. He participates in the Mock Trial team at Oakland Mills, is captain of the Kinetic Sculpture Team, and participates in the Environmental Club.  He is active in protests against unjust immigration policies.

 

The steps you can take as a list:

1. Joining us – Sunday, June 9, 2019 – Save the Date – on the National Mall between 12th and 14th Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. Consider organizing a delegation from your church or congregation.  
   • If you can’t make it to the Mall please organize a similar pajama display locally.
2. Donating pajamas – you can do this by contacting hocoimmigration@gmail.com to arrange a pick-up for larger donations or you can mail them to UUCC Social Justice, Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia MD 21045-5054.  
   • Consider aggregating your efforts and making this a youth project of your congregation, perhaps organized through your religious or intergenerational education programs.
3. Offering sermons and religious education programing on the topic and let us know that you are doing so.
4. Referring us for helpful partnerships at hocoimmigration@gmail.com
5. Using our Facebook page to post support and updates on your efforts so we know and feel that participants are part of a growing movement.
6. Making financial contributions – help us to fund this project with contributions at our gofundme site. We have an estimated cost of $3,000 for June 9 and are seeking support.