Man thanks church for serving as his sanctuary

Amherst, Mass. (AP) — Lucio Perez, a Guatemalan national who took sanctuary in an Amherst church last year amid announcements of the federal government’s crackdown on immigrants without proper documentation, said that he was doing well despite the circumstances.

Standing before a crowd of hundreds in the First United Church where he has spent the last 12 months, Perez told his supporters that he felt their support acutely.

“When I see so many people here before me I feel that I am not alone,” he said.

Designed to acknowledge the time he had spent inside the church, the event on Oct. 20 took place a year after Perez took shelter there after being ordered to return to his home country by federal officials.

Dressed in a red tie, dress shirt and black pants, Perez smiled broadly before the large crowd, thanking them for coming and for the support throughout the past months. Though cheerful, Perez said the year had not been easy.

“No, it has not been easy to be in this church for a year,” he admitted. “But I thank God for putting desire into all of your hearts ... It has been a year of fighting, of struggle. It has not been easy for anyone.”

“But with the help of every one of you I know that we can change the world, that we can change what is happening,” he said, to applause.

The event was largely put on and attended by individuals who had played pivotal roles in securing Perez’s sanctuary throughout the past year. Many of the audience members had contributed to work connected to Lucio’s sanctuary over the past year — including helping to provide meals and companionship for him.

The event was also partially organized by the Pioneer Valley Workers Center — a Northampton-based nonprofit whose focus on immigration and labor rights led it to organize in defense of Perez last year.

Margaret Sawyer, a lead organizer with PVWC, spoke at length, giving voice to hope and frustration over the current climate for immigrants across the country.

Toward the end of her remarks Sawyer laid out her political vision for immigration — one in which the federal government laid out a “road to citizenship” for the 25 million immigrants without proper documentation currently living in the country.

“Don’t be scared, be bold,” Sawyer said, encouraging local activism.

Perez’s son Tony spoke as well, thanking audience members for their support throughout the past 12 months and describing some of the difficult emotional experiences that the family had endured since his father took sanctuary.

“This year has been a very tough year for all of us,” Tony said, recalling the stress and fear that had overcome him upon hearing that his father had been briefly taken out of sanctuary and hospitalized for an operation related to appendicitis. “My first thought was (that) ICE” may have detained his father, Tony said, after his mother had told him that his father was receiving medical attention.

Vicki Kemper, a pastor at the church, said that the congregation would continue to fight for Perez’s safety and rights. “This work is ongoing,” Kemper said.

“We come together today with mixed feelings,” Kemper said. “We don’t want to celebrate the year in which Lucio and his family have been kept apart by the policies of our government — and yet we give thanks that they can still see each other regularly.”

“We don’t celebrate Lucio’s year long confinement to a church building, and yet we are grateful that he is safe,” she went on.

A number of local and regional officials and political candidates were present at Saturday’s event and gave brief remarks in support of Perez.

Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman said that he supported the efforts of local activists, and that similar efforts were being made in Springfield — where immigrant Gisella Collazo is also currently in sanctuary.