Monday, August 4, 2025: At 9:00 Tomorrow Morning (Tuesday the 5th of August) at 9:00, many people will begin a hunger strike to get the attention of the County Board of Supervisors so that they stop any cooperation with ICE. We'll meet at the Board's Office at  575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa to cheer them on!


Our own Daniel Vrooman will take part in the strike. We can be there to support Dan and others who have decided to make this commitment to make "good trouble."

Here's a letter from Pastor Lindsey Kerr explaining her decision to fast in order to stop the Sheriff from cooperating with ICE:

I will be participating in the upcoming Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition's hunger strike. 

We are striking to push the Board of Supervisors to adopt an ordinance to make Sonoma County a Sanctuary County. As you know, social justice is core to our religious values. As we fast, we are aligning ourselves with the oppressed and calling on our local elected officials to show moral courage and stand against the harmful abuses of Immigration Customs Enforcement.




I appreciate your enthusiastic support of this strike. Here's what's still needed: 

First and foremost, we still need folks who are willing to camp outside the supervisors' office, particularly for folks who might be willing to camp Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday night. Let me know if you're interested, and if there's any way our congregation can support your commitment - either with camping equipment, transportation, etc.

We need folks to help with security. If you're willing to help, let me know.

We also need folks who can stop by for daytime shifts. The more people there, the better - so come whenever you can, particularly in the afternoon. Please bring your own chair if possible. 

Lastly, we need a big turn out for the opening of the strike (Tuesday, August 5 at 9am), and for the supervisors' meeting, (Tuesday, August 12 at 9am). The strike opening will last 30 - 45 minutes. The Board of Supervisors meeting is open-ended, so plan on being there for most of the morning if possible.

Even if you can't make it to the strike in-person, we encourage you to call your supervisor, and share your support for the ordinance using this script.

I've also attached a flyer - please share far and wide with your contacts, and invite others to participate in any of the ways that they can.

Grace and peace, Pastor Lindsey

Rev. Lindsey Bell-Kerr (they/them), Pastor, Christ Church United Methodist

c: (412) 576-5763

e: Lindsey.BellKerr@cnumc.org

Call your Supervisor and use either of these scripts to convey your support for the hunger strike!


I’m calling to urge Supervisor _____________ to vote to immediately stop our Sheriff from cooperating with ICE. His wrongful cooperation with ICE makes people unsafe and keeps them from reporting crimes and going to work, school, church, and local businesses for fear of being wrongfully arrested and possibly deported. Cooperating with ICE and providing them information about community members violates the values reflected in the Sonoma County Immigration Initiative and creates an environment of fear and mistrust. We will all be safer when the Board of Supervisors stops the Sheriff's cooperating with ICE.

 I’m calling to urge Supervisor ____________to vote to immediately stop our Sheriff from cooperating with ICE. He is wrongfully providing ICE information about community members which puts them at risk of being wrongfully arrested and possibly deported. Wrongful arrests separate families, throw them into crisis and can put children in foster care. Fear of wrongful arrest is keeping people away from work, school, church, and local businesses. Cooperating with ICE violates our community values. We will all be safer once the Sheriff stops cooperating with ICE.



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