Bishops Carcano, Trimble speak at immigration rally

Bishop Minerva Carcano and Bishop Julius Trimble spoke today at a lunch-time immigration rally at General Conference.

They argued that prisons are a driver of high incarceration rates, including of immigrants.

Many in the crowd of perhaps 200 held signs, and a common one attacked the private prison industry with the slogan “Profit From Pain Is Inhumane.”

At the dais, Bishop Carcano said: “Some of you have been raising the question, `Is this a prison rally or an immigration rally. It’s a justice rally!”

That line got loud applause, as did one from Bishop Trimble: “We want to invest in the work of incarnation, not incarceration.”

The UMC’s pension board decided last year not to invest in companies that derive more than 10 percent of their income from private prisons.

Barbara Boigegrain, top executive of the board, also spoke at the rally.

Bishop Carcano announced that the Council of Bishops would have a letter writing campaign to governors and other state officials, opposing privatization of prisons.

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