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Capitol Witness
The Rev. Christian S. Watkins (bottom left) joins United Methodists and other faith leaders in the Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget June 10 at the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Christian S. Watkins/Facebook)
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Protesters Gather
United Methodist protestors gathered outside the United Methodist Building opposite the U.S. Supreme Court before joining the Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. June 10. (Photo Courtesy of Neal Christie).
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Immigration Raids Protest
Clergy and lay members of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church confront National Guard troops stationed outside the federal detention center on June 9 in downtown Los Angeles. (California-Pacific Conference Photo)
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Conference Witness
Clergy and lay members of the California-Pacific Annual Conference demonstrate against ICE raids in downtown Los Angeles. (Conference Photo via Facebook).
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Getting Ready
The Rev. John Sumwalt shows his planned outfit, complete with a giant load of bread for Holy Communion, that he plans to wear June 14 to participate in a "No Kings Day" demonstration in Milwaukee, Wisc. (Courtesy Photo/Facebook)
UPDATE June 13, 2025: The Rev. Neal Christie added that United Methodists can join in protest against the federal budget proposal by signing an online petition, "Christians Demand a Compassionate Budget." Prepared by Faithful America and supported by several faith-based organizations, the petition has gathered 13,000 signatures as of this date and will be presented during ongoing meetings with congressional representatives, Rev. Christie said.
A United Methodist Insight Special
As demonstrations against the Trump Administration's proposed budget and immigrant raids increased across the country, United Methodists also increased their involvement in protests. In addition to Los Angeles, secular media outlets reported protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Seattle and Spokane, Wash.; Chicago, Las Vegas and New York City.
Around 30 United Methodists, including Bishop Julius C. Trimble, top executive of the General Board of Church and Society, were pictured in front of the United Methodist Building opposite the U.S. Capitol prior to joining in the Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget. The event, protesting the federal budget reconciliation bill and its severe cuts to social services, was cosponsored by United Women in Faith.
The Rev. Christian S. Watkins, minister of social justice at Asbury United Methodist Church-Washington D.C. and Justice & Democracy Systems Reform Government Relations Advocate at Network Lobby, posted several photos from the Pentecost Witness. He wrote: "'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for siblings to dwell together in unity!' (Ps. 133) Even for such a time as we rally in peace, prayer and holy boldness to confront the Senate, standing against this One Bloated, Bigoted Bill that will defund healthcare, SNAP, WIC, and many other social safety net programs, it’s good to see some beloved friends in the mix."
The Rev. Neal Christie, executive of The Religious Nationalisms Project, submitted photos from the Pentecost Witness showing participants holding signs saying "United Methodists Stand for Justice."
More social media posts documented increased resistance to ICE raids.
The California-Pacific Annual Conference posted photos of Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank and clergy and lay members of the conference who demonstrated in front of the federal detention building in downtown Los Angeles.
The Rev. Thomas Fassett, retired general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, requested prayers in a Facebook post for the Rev. Tanya Lopez, pastor of Downey Memorial Christian Church in California, who confronted armed agents arresting a man in the church parking lot. In addition to Rev. Fassett's post, a local television station reported on the incident: ICE agents make arrest at Los Angeles area church.
Previously ICE agents avoided arrests in "sensitive areas" such as schools and churches, but that policy was rescinded in January after President Trump took office.
Retired communicator Stephen Drachler posted notice of an ICE raid in Bethlehem, Pa.:
ICE raided a building in Bethlehem, PA today, and took away a busload of people. They were at work, restoring a fire-damaged building. One more example of the tactics now being deployed: If you look Hispanic, ICE will arrest you. It's not about violent gangs anymore. It's about deporting people of color. Entering the U.S. illegally is a misdemeanor, yet ICE treats people they arrest like they are members of a terrorist group. Disgraceful.
As the week wore on, more posts and emails promoted the "No Kings Day" demonstrations scheduled for Saturday, June 14.
United Methodist layman and prominent environmentalist Bill McKibben encouraged participation in "No Kings Day" in an email from Third Act, a civic engagement organization for elder citizens he co-founded. He wrote that as of June 11, more than 1,800 events had been scheduled to take place on June 14.
McKibben had a message for those hesitating to participate:
...We’ve worked with all our partners at Indivisible and elsewhere to make sure that these thousands of events across America will be peaceful and family-friendly, and I have no doubt that’s how almost all of them will go. On the deployment of military in LA, organizers have released this statement:
"The No Kings mobilizations on June 14 were already planned as a peaceful stand against authoritarian overreach and the gross abuse of power this Administration has shown. Now, this military escalation only confirms what we’ve known: this government wants to rule by force, not serve the people. From major cities to small towns, we’ll rise together and say: we reject political violence. We reject fear as governance. We reject the myth that only some deserve freedom."
McKibben then linked to a Third Act statement on the Los Angeles demonstrations, which read in part:
"We stand with those in custody, including veteran labor leader David Huerta, and we ask all our members to join the peaceful demonstrations planned in communities across America for Saturday June 14, No Kings Day. Everyone needs to say: this is not the America we aspire to be.
"What we do in this moment matters, this admin is ratcheting up its assault on immigrant communities—they want to test our tolerance for violence, kidnapping, and unrestrained cruelty. If we don’t stand together to defend our neighbors and communities, they’ll take our inaction as indifference—or even consent."
Among those planning to attend "No Kings Day," the Rev. John Sumwalt, a regular columnist for United Methodist Insight, posted a photo of his planned June 14 outfit in a lengthy "What to Wear to the No Kings March" post on Facebook:
I will be joining millions of people around the nation on Saturday in the No Kings marches. Jo and I will be at Cathedral Square in Milwaukee.
I march in support of refugee families who came to America to escape violence and hunger, and now live in fear of gun toting, masked ICE agents.
I march in support of those who have been deported without due process.
... I march as a follower of Jesus, mindful that all of us who follow Jesus embody his Spirit wherever we go.
Cynthia B. Astle is Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011 as a media channel for news and views about, for and by marginalized and underserved United Methodists.