On June 19, 2018, Abbie Arevalo-Herrera made the decision to move into First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond with two of her children to fight her order of deportation. Abbie came to the United States seeking asylum due to a long history of domestic violence that would only have ended in her death at the hands of her abuser.

Over the past four months Abbie has been in the national spotlight, a symbol of all people fleeing violence and a powerful leader in her own right. She is the first person to enter public Sanctuary in Virginia. Abbie has told her story hundreds of times and is leading the advocacy and strategy of her campaign to become free.

Join Abbie on Tuesday, October 23rd at 6 pm to learn how she is sharing her story and using her platform to lead a movement in Virginia and beyond! The Sanctuary Movement is unique in bringing together a broad spectrum of activists, from moderate faith communities to the far left. As Abbie and others claim Sanctuary, they are instantly catapulted into the national spotlight.

Abbie will be accompanied by Lana Heath de Martinez, who spearheaded the Sanctuary movement in central Virginia through distilling stories, policies, and theology. Heath de Martinez is an itinerant preacher, public speaker and community mobilizer who has spent the last ten years asking faith communities to get involved in anti-oppression work, particularly concerning immigrant justice. Bringing gifts of networking, lived experience, and a theological education rooted in womanist liberation theology, Lana has organized the sanctuary movement in Central Virginia. In addition to faith-based activism, Lana coordinates legislative advocacy at the General Assembly for clients who share the same vision of immigrant justice. A mother of three boys six and under, Lana has become an expert multi-tasker, often preaching, teaching and marching with a baby in her arms.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to the organization assisting Abbie and her case.

For more information about this event contact Groundswell's PSN coordinator Shefa Nola Benoit at info@rootsandreasons.com.