“The time will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today.” -- August Spies
The news keeps reminding me of those last words of August Spies. Spies was an immigrant and activist in the fight for the eight hour workday, and they hung him for it in 1887, in what can only be described as state-sanctioned murder.
There's been a lot of that in this country recently, with more and more names being added to the list of ICE victims.
On Saturday, folks gathered at the Big Four Bridge in Waterfront Park here in Louisville, Kentucky, for a vigil for those killed by the regime's gun thugs.
To honor and remember those who should still be with us.
The Singing Resistance led the gathered throng in song, and faith leaders addressed the crowd before reading out the names of each person ICE has killed.
Was a powerful, solemn moment, a name would be read out, and as the ceremonial bowl rang out the crowd would respond "¡presente!"
Again, and again, and again. . .
When at long last the list of names was through, clergy led a procession up onto the Big Four Bridge.
Bearing flowers and the names of the slain, they continued out onto the central span of the bridge over the Ohio River.
There, clergy delivered some final words before Singing Resistance led everyone in a hymn.
As everyone sang, they released the flowers into the Ohio, in memory and honor of the slain.
May we not have to do this ever again. . .