I had just been elected to the Leadership Team of the Association of US Catholic Priests, so when I received notice of the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children I sent out notices to generate interest in representing the association.  My thought was that members near DC would attend.  But most had prior commitments, and I did not.  I also did not have funds to make the trip and pay the fine, so I drove the 900 + miles to Washington the day before the event and made arrangements to stay at the recommended Stuart Center, sponsored by the Religious of the Sacred Heart.  I was apprehensive about the drive, but just talking about opposition seemed weak and way too easy.

Arriving in time for dinner, I was warmly (if not wetly) greeted by Center staff and shown my room.  Then I joined about 12 fellow demonstrators for a delicious potluck meal.  Community began to form immediately.  Two others indicated their intention to participate in civil disobedience by demonstrating in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building and facing arrest, as did I.  We had joined a webinar earlier in the week to learn about the program and consequences of being arrested for not leaving the building when directed to do so by the Capitol Police, so while we were not entirely sure what to expect, we were confident that all would be well.

The group of those willing to face arrest (70 of us) gathered at 8:30 Thursday morning at a Lutheran church right across from the Russell Senate Office Building.  There was a festive spirit in the air.  Many old friends from other demonstrations and activist work were reunited and many introductions were made.  I connected with fellow AUSCP-er Bernie Survil, who seemed to know and be known by everyone! Many of us were presenting ourselves for civil disobedience for the first time. Ground rules were again covered and we placed our possessions (cell phones, wallets, etc.) into the care of volunteer supporters and prepared to go to join about 200 other demonstrators for the prayer service outside the senate building.  It was VERY hot outside!!

Event organizers led prayer, music, and testimony.  While they were all very stimulating and brief, the combined effect of time, standing, and heat got to me.  I have injuries from an accident that broke my neck and back, which hurts with  a painful vengeance whenever I stand for too long a period.  But I reflected how my temporary pain, however severe, paled in comparison to the emotional pain and physical hurt of children detained and their families.  The pain kept getting worse but the context made it bearable!

We moved to the Russell rotunda.  It was obvious to many that I was in great pain, including a man from Dayton, Ohio with a cane who saw a report about what we would be doing on the previous night’s Rachel Madow show.  He immediately bought a plane ticket and flew to DC to get arrested!  He was recovering from a recent hip replacement, but was very solicitous of me!  We were all standing, so unbeknownst to me, someone went to seek out a chair for me, which was brought by an aide from the nearby office of Senator Tim Kaine! 

We began the rosary.  Very quickly, an officer of the police announced through a bull horn our first warning to disband.  Then the second.  Finally the third, at which point only the 70 of us remained in the rotunda, including five lying on the floor in the shape of a cross.

I had sat long enough that when I stood to be handcuffed and arrested, my pain was gone.  The arresting police were very polite and very young.  I wondered what was going through their minds as they put cuffs on such a diverse and non-violent group including a 90 and an 80+-year-old religious sister.

We were handcuffed behind our backs, searched and taken to a bus  (I later learned that there was a shot on MSNBC of me being cuffed).  It got real.  The ratio of police officer to ‘prisoner ‘ was 1::1.  To me, the expense seemed excessive and the money would have done wonders for the kids detained at the southern border if any official had been inclined to use it for them.

Still, the police were polite and human.  At the site of detention (it was a large, cleared-out police garage!) chairs were set up and water was offered.  There were plenty of fans, so the air did move.  We were again searched.  The behind-the-back cuffs were removed (I asked to keep mine) and our signs, stoles and other remaining possessions except for id and $$ for bail were bagged.  Once again we were cuffed, this time in front, and directed to sit in chairs.  At this point, the whole thing reminded me of a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles—except for the cuffs, of course.  Hurry up and wait!!

The sense of community continued, while police and detainees got a sense of each other.  Police offered water and were quite kind, but obviously in control!  Some detainees thanked them for their service.  I was not ready to do that. 

We were processed one by one, in some random order.  We sat before an officer who read us our rights and filled out a detention form.  I realized this was my first time in detention!  Then we waited some more.  I did notice that the officers were quite formal and consistent in their demeanor and procedures at the beginning but gradually let up as the process continued.  For example, initially, each person being processed was led to and from the table where that was being done by an officer.  Eventually, we were able to go back to the seats on our own.  Men were seated on one side of the garage and women on another.  At one point a women came over to the men’s side and was redirected.  An hour or so later, a man went over to talk to a woman.  He was ignored by the police.  I guess they realized themselves how stupid some of this was!

Finally, after about four hours, the first of us was called to pay her fine and was let go.  She was Sr. Pat Murphy from Chicago, who is 90 years old.  Sr. Pat gathers every Friday outside the Cook County detention center and has done so for 13 years.

A great cheer went up as she was released.  This continued each time one person would be released.  I wondered how that would go for the last person.  I was not to find out, as my name was called when there were still plenty detainees left.

Outside, with my bag of possessions from the police, I walked to where the event organizers and other volunteers were and was offered a snack.  I took a clementine.  It was delicious but at that point so would have been a turnip!  Waiting for rides, we sat and talked and debriefed.  Sr. Bridget, the executive director of the Stuart Center picked a number of us staying there up and returned us to the center, which was where I had parked.  We had a bit of a social and then they had prepared a dinner for those of us staying there and anyone else who took part in the demonstration.  I left  at about 7 and began the 11 hour drive back to Notre Dame, arriving at 6 AM  Friday morning.

I realize that our efforts were mostly symbolic and of very little personal cost.  Nonetheless, I know it was worthwhile.  It was a witness gesture, but it did draw attention. It made news throughout the nation and even in at least England., with emphasis on it having been a Catholic witness event. 

Social media was full of personal stories and reports of the event.  I am very moved by the hundreds of supportive comments from friends and relatives and even strangers, likes, and loves on my own Facebook page.  It was one of my brothers who posted the clip from MSNBC, showing me getting arrested.  When I got home, I felt positive support from some members of my religious community. Of course, there were also some less supportive comments, but none of these were from anyone I know.  I am glad I did it, and am open to doing something similar again—preferably closer to home!!