Bishop Taylor to join Little Rock immigration march

Published: September 23, 2013

Two marches in support of comprehensive immigration reform will be held in October. Participants are encouraged to carry Arkansas or United States flags and wear white to show solidarity.

In a Sept. 23 letter to pastors, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor wrote, “I highly encourage all Catholics to join in one or both of the two upcoming marches in support of comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship: in Rogers Oct. 5 and in Little Rock Oct. 12. The impetus for immigration reform has stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives and it is important that our demand for justice for immigrants be heard now.

“I plan to participate in the march in Little Rock Oct. 12, but due to prior commitments, I will not be able to participate in the march in Rogers Oct. 5, so you will need to serve as my voice there as well as the voice of so many voiceless people in our midst.”

The bishop is asking priests to wear their clerical attire so that “support of the Catholic Church for immigration reform will be unmistakable.” He is also asking the Knights of Columbus honor guards to participate. Other participants should wear white and should not carry foreign flags or wear clothing supporting a foreign country.

“It is important that non-Hispanics participate in large numbers to give clear witness to our legislators that this is an issue of justice and thus concerns all of us,” the bishop wrote. “Indeed, ever since the time of Cain, God has insisted repeatedly that we are to be ‘our brother's keeper.’”

The Oct. 5 march in Rogers begins at 4 p.m. at the corner of Walnut Ave. and 2nd St. and will proceed to the corner of Walnut Ave. and 13th St. where a celebration will take place from 5-7 p.m.

The Oct. 12 march will begin at 3 p.m. at two different start locations. One group will leave the entrance of Philander Smith College in Little Rock and the other one will leave from near Dickey Stevens Park in North Little Rock. A rally will be held at the State Capitol at 4 p.m.

For more information or to volunteer, contact or (479) 871-2168.