IRATE &
First Friends
is a non-profit organization that upholds the inherent humanity and dignity of all immigrants. We
provide visitors and non legal assistance for immigrants held in detention and work for improved conditions.
We advocate for
the end of arbitrary, mass detention believing detention is morally wrong, legally suspect and wasteful of taxpayer funds.
Consider
a donation to
IRATE &
First Friends
IRATE & First Friends
EVENTS
IRATE & First Friends holds three regular annual events.
WINTER
There is an annual Ash Wednesday Vigil and Soup Supper held at the Elizabeth Detention Center. Usually, the vigil begins
at 6 PM for an hour followed by the Soup Supper at St. Joseph's Social Service Center at 118 Division Street, Elizabeth. Ash
Wednesday is Mar. 9, 2011.
Twice a year, in June and November, IRATE & First Friends collects stationary, stamps and money for
phone cards for the immigrant detainees. Individuals and groups are invited to participate. An announcement will be made that materials
are being collected (Sign ip for our newsletter!) When all the donations are collected, a "packing party" is held to package all the
collected materials and the stationary is then distributed throught the administrators of the various jails and detention centers.
The
stationary is critically important to maintain morale in the centers. Many who are detained are unclear why. Expecially asylum seekers
who come seeking freedom from persecution and are locked away. Long hours in depressing situations can lead to despair. Some suicides
in detention have occurred.
FALL
Every fall we have a Columbus Weekend Vigil and Demonstration at the Elizabeth Detention Center. The vigils
start on Sunday at 2 PM; and in 2009 and 2010 were followed by a Teach-In and Spaghetti Supper. The 2010 Vigil featured a return of
the founders of IRATE & First Friends, Charlie and Geri Mulligan. Read about this years event here.
SUMMER
We celebrate World Refugee Day each year around June 20th. In 2011 we celebrated June 18 & 19 at the Clearwater Festival
in Croton on Hudson, NY. THe festival offered an opportunity to spread the word about our work with new faces.
In 2010,
we celebrated on June 17 at First Presbyterian Church in South Orange. Our musical guests included Bong the Haitian Drummer
and the Catholic Worker Band.
