"My experience in El Salvador under a brutal, violent regime is the only analogy to masked federal agents in Minnesota, literally killing U.S. citizens and firing tear gas. Like, that's the only analogy I have in terms of the sort of situation. And I've been part of a lot of resistance."
"In 1987, out gay Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel traveled to El Salvador to support refugees who were now endeavoring to return home after fleeing their country during its brutal civil war. Despite their decisions to return, the refugees remained vulnerable to the military-backed, right-wing death squads that arose during the war to silence activists and other leftist sympathizers."
"Currently the Pastor for Justice Ministries and Director of the Center for Sustainable Justice at Minneapolis's Lyndale United Church of Christ, Voelkel has been involved in progressive local activism for decades, particularly through a group called March Minnesota. The pro-queer, multi-faith organization launched in 1991 to provide religious support for queer organizing in the state."
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel, an out gay clergy member, traveled to El Salvador in 1987 to support refugees returning home after the country's civil war, participating in the accompaniment movement to protect vulnerable people from military-backed death squads. She currently serves as Pastor for Justice Ministries at Minneapolis's Lyndale United Church of Christ and has been involved in progressive activism for decades through March Minnesota, a pro-queer, multi-faith organization founded in 1991. March Minnesota has led campaigns for marriage rights, opposed the Standing Rock oil pipeline, and provided support during Black Lives Matter protests. Voelkel draws a direct comparison between the violence she witnessed in El Salvador and ICE operations in Minneapolis, describing both as government-sanctioned terror against vulnerable populations.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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