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Qutzupalotl

(15,614 posts)
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 10:09 PM Yesterday

Evanston Church's nativity scene depicts baby Jesus zip-tied by ICE


Faith leaders and volunteers chose to depict the Holy Family protesting an ICE detention center as this year's Nativity set outside of Lake Street Church in Evanston. Associate Minister Jillian Westerfield said Jesus' birth story is very similar to present day tensions on immigration enforcement in Chicago and around the nation. (Jillian Westerfield)

Mother Mary wearing a respirator mask to protect herself from tear gas. Baby Jesus with zip-tied hands, wrapped in a thin blanket that looks like aluminum foil. Masked centurions with sunglasses and green vests labeled “ICE.”

This is how the Lake Street Church of Evanston chose to assemble its Nativity scene for the Christmas season.
….

Westerfield said the feelings about ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, are not just shared by the church’s leadership, but also its congregation. “This is who we are, and this is what’s important to us. And we would be much more afraid to hold back, because ultimately, we feel like we answer to God, not to anyone else,” Westerfield said.
….
“We don’t speak for all Christians, but we certainly speak for a certain strand of community that’s trying to take that message and say, ‘If Jesus were born in America right now, what would this nativity set look like?'” Woolf said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/evanston-nativity-baby-jesus-zip-tied-ice-agents/


What a protest!
17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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vapor2

(3,536 posts)
1. Just can't believe these dark times and keep hoping for karma/accountability for these vile people
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 10:31 PM
Yesterday

tulipsandroses

(8,095 posts)
2. Cue the RW outrage. Because this would never happen to republican Jeezus. That other brown guy though?
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 10:45 PM
Yesterday

Yeah, he might have been zip tied. Not the white, blonde hair, blue eyed RW Jeezus.

CaliforniaPeggy

(155,894 posts)
3. Those faith leaders and volunteers are brave souls! I applaud their courage and intelligence in this season.
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 11:22 PM
23 hrs ago

This tableau really brings the reality of what ICE is doing. It's utterly illegal and completely without caring or any sort of empathy. Horrifying as well.

K&R

PatSeg

(51,659 posts)
12. This administration
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 05:23 PM
5 hrs ago

is bringing out the best in a lot of us. I commend those behind this nativity scene.

popsdenver

(1,257 posts)
13. They should have guards on scene 24/7
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 05:59 PM
4 hrs ago

to protect it from being destroyed by MAGAots, ICE, and Border Patrol

pattyloutwo

(501 posts)
10. Oh my gosh
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 02:29 PM
8 hrs ago

People care! 😊 In all of this darkness it’s important to see these acts of confrontation and protest. I feel like we might come out of this 🙏

GiqueCee

(3,135 posts)
11. Yeah...
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 05:21 PM
5 hrs ago

... but not without scars, or serious questions about a system that bends the knee to rich sociopaths instead of taking care of those in need.

WARNING! Do NOT eat the rich. Their malice is contagious.

AllaN01Bear

(28,248 posts)
14. wanna really freak the rws out? tell them he wasnt that 6 foot blonde blue eyed bombshel,,
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 06:10 PM
4 hrs ago

but olive skinned . gets em evry time.

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