“Illegal immigration activist Inger Eberhart of Acworth – who observed the pilgrimage – said it was outrageous that “illegals could walk in the middle of Marietta Square and complain about something that doesn’t belong to them.”

“They are lawbreakers. They broke the law as soon as they came over here,” said Eberhart, an advisory board member of the Cobb-based Dustin Inman Society, which advocates for immigration law enforcement. “All we’re asking for is the equal application of the law.”

Pilgrimage for immigrants passes through Cobb

By Marcus E. Howard
mhoward@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA – A crowd of 500 or more could have been seen heading north Thursday on South Cobb Drive from Smyrna to the Marietta Square while participating in the six-day Holy Week Interfaith Pilgrimage for Immigrants.

Participants began with a prayer service Thursday morning at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on King Springs Road in Smyrna.

Carrying a cross and a banner that read “Pilgrimage For Immigrants” in both English and Spanish, they then walked 8 miles north on South Cobb Drive to Atlanta Road and arrived at the Marietta Square at about 2:45 p.m.

There, they sang songs, mostly in Spanish, prayed and conducted a foot washing ceremony.

“It is something that Jesus did to the disciples to show that I am your servant,” said lead organizer P.J. Edwards of Smyrna. “So we wanted to do it and make it symbolic, and have immigrant residents have their feet washed by American citizens.”

The pilgrimage is meant to be a show of solidarity with immigrants, said organizer Anton Flores of LaGrange.

“The story of migrants goes all the way back to the exodus story … It’s time for us to remind ourselves that first and foremost immigration is something that reaches deep back into our religious traditions,” he said.

Thursday was the largest gathering so far for the six-day pilgrimage that began Sunday in Gainesville and ends today in Atlanta. Edwards said participants did not run into any problems during their walk.

The various faith group organizers are calling for the end of law enforcement raids that they say separate families, passage of humane immigration reform legislation, and the revision of trade policies that increase unauthorized immigration.

“I think the Hispanic population is politically correct to kick, as opposed to African-Americans now. It’s the same people that are now venting their anger on the Hispanics. Their trump card is illegal,” said participant Pat Burns, a retired nurse from Smyrna. “But, they’re human. Who is your brother and who is your sister, if not the people who live beside you?”

Illegal immigration activist Inger Eberhart of Acworth – who observed the pilgrimage – said it was outrageous that “illegals could walk in the middle of Marietta Square and complain about something that doesn’t belong to them.”

“They are lawbreakers. They broke the law as soon as they came over here,” said Eberhart, an advisory board member of the Cobb-based Dustin Inman Society, which advocates for immigration law enforcement. “All we’re asking for is the equal application of the law.”

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