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Immigrant Justice Teach-In
On The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call to Moral Revival.
This speech was written for Richmond’s Peace and Education Center’s Immigrant Justice Teach-In organized by Seema Sked of Fight the Muslim Ban in Monroe Park RVA to represent and teach a bit about my work with The Poor People’s Campaign. Later this month, I will be traveling to Chicago for the PPC convening.
My name is Reverend Doctor Leonina Arismendi Zarkovic.
Originally from Uruguay, where my family has never been one to shy away from politics and direct action, indeed, My family has resisted colonial rule and capitalism for centuries and am proud of that. I think there is no accidents when fate is concerned and this is why we are here today, isn’t it?
I moved to VA at age ten and have never been able to go back. Since moving here I have always aimed to help my peers and community weather through language accessibility, art or by just showing up. I now work with (and sometimes lead) many amazing organizations in Virginia and across the South to fight for immigrant justice rights in all arenas. From ending ICE collaborations in local jails, to helping churches and congregations make a leap of faith into pledging to become sanctuaries to lobbying in the general assembly I work to dismantle the many places and institutions that actively seek to destroy…
