My letter to the Sheriff - call, fax or email too!

[Rev. Deb Lee]

Hi folks!
Thank you for the great lunch and time together today!
Here is the letter I am faxing to Contra Costa Sheriff Livingston reflecting my wish to come at him with a different approach- based in nonviolence.  I am earnestly trying to heap some love on him - and I did use David's song!

If you feel so moved-  you may fax or email him or call as well.   It was a great exercise for me!

Here is the into for his Exec. Assistant, Maurine Wamosh.. email:  mw...@so.cccounty.us , Tel. (925) 335-1516 , Fax. (925)-335-1691

Thanks!
Debbie
_____________

Dear Sheriff Livingston,

 

“May you be happy.  May you be peaceful.

May you be safe. May you be free from harm.  May you be free from anger, anxiety and fear.

May you be filled with love. “

 

Sheriff Livingston, this is my prayer for you, as it is my prayer for all of God’s children.  We have not met you, but I want to tell you that  I recognize that you have a complex job.  I recognize that you are trying to do the best you can, with the resources you have,  in the circumstances you find yourself in.

 

There is a young woman who very much wants to be united with her family.  Her family very much wants to see her.  They are afraid she will be taken away from them.

 

Last night I met 8 members of the family of Elwar Abigail Soto outside the West County Detention Facility.  They are family – her partner, son, sisters and brother in law, best friend-  who love her and were anxiously awaiting for her to be released.

 

She came in to your custody this week because of possibly a mistaken warrant for misdemeanor charges (not yet convicted)–saying she was a no show.  She has proven her presence at her hearing and the court ordered her to be released on her Own Recognizance from WCDF Wednesday night.  Her family was told to pick her up there at 6 pm last night. 

 

Unfortunately, ICE has put a hold on her.  And she is not being released to be reunited with her own family, but will be turned over to ICE tomorrow afternoon.

 

We ask that you might consider, this young woman’s life and her family in this particular case.  We ask that you might release her before ICE takes her Friday afternoon.

 

This does not preclude ICE from doing its own job.  We ask that you might have courage and compassion to do this for Abigail and her family.   Please contact me if you can do something for her.

 

Thank you,

Rev. Deborah Lee 

(415) 297-8222

 

--
Rev. Deborah Lee

Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (CLUE-CA)

1814 Franklin St. #325

Oakland, CA  94612

(510) 893-7106 x 319

dl...@clueca.org

[Sally Juarez]

Debbie, I think this is an excellent synthesis of what se talked about today.  And the lyrics to David's song as the preamble is great!  Let's all add our prayers.  In addition, I will certainly follow up with a call.  I want to be sure I understand the woman's name correctly:  

Sent from my iPhone

[Teresita Valeriano]

Thank you Debbie for sharing this letter and I hope that more leaders will do this. I commit myself to pray for the young woman's family and for sheriff Livingston.

Please let us know what else could we do.

Peace,

Tita

Sent from my iPhone

[david nelson]

What a beautiful intention, Debbie! Offering loving-kindness to yourself and others, including the sheriff. Such a nice letter from the heart. That is powerful, compassionate mojo for creating well being in ourselves and the world. Experiencing our inter-being nature removes separation and facilitates natural healing. I, too, will send out this metta energy, as well as place a call to the office of your sheriff friend.

 

If you'd like to sing the song again, here's a nice recording of Betsy Rose singing with children in Oakland and Berkeley: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU_Vj0kytFo

 

And a brief summary of loving-kindness (metta) meditation:

http://info.med.yale.edu/psych/3s/metta.html

 

May you be well,

david