Great Turnout at St. John Vianney Action! Guests: Bishop Wenski and Sheriff Demings

September 21, 2009

Sheriff Jerry Demings, Reverend Thomas Wenski, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, and the St. John Vianney Community came together Monday, September 21st to discuss the relationship of local sheriff's deputies to immigrants in the community.  More than 300 people attended.  For years, St. John Vianney has worked with minority parents to get involved in local schools and forged innovative partnerships to improve the safety of students, families, and residents of the Oak Ridge community.  While the Parent Watch Program continues, parents were reporting fears of local law enforcement in conjunction with reporting criminal activity.  As other counties in Florida have adopted the 287(g) program, which authorizes local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws, families have become more fearful.  Powerful testimonials were lifted up at the meeting, along with an agreement by Sheriff Demings not to adopt 287(g) in Orange County.  Bishop Wenski spoke passionately about the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the national level, and encouraged the crowd to take action.  See more photos at www.focusorlando.org/photos