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September 22, 2015

Immigrant Women Walk 100 Miles to Greet Pope in D.C. 
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As Pope Francis arrives in Washington, D.C., a group of 100 women, many
of them undocumented, are also set to arrive in D.C. after marching 100
miles from a detention center in York, Pennsylvania, in order to greet
the pope. Domestic worker Silvia Gonzalez, who is walking with the
group, said the march is intended to send a message that families belong
together and should not be separated by U.S. immigration policies.

Silvia Gonzalez: "My message for him, it's for peace, for dignity, for
love, for all the families together. My mom lives in Mexico. I've been
here for 15 years in U.S.A., and I don't see my mom for these 15, long,
long 15 years. I live here, and my daughter and my granddaughter live
here also. And I know I can go, I can go see my mom, but I can't come
back."

The pope had reportedly wanted to begin his U.S. trip by crossing the
Mexican border, but the plan had to be scrapped for logistical reasons.
In January, Pope Francis said, "To enter the United States from the
border with Mexico would be a beautiful gesture of brotherhood and
support for immigrants."

 

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