As the morning sun beat down on Alameda St., the sound of Civil Rights anthems started to rise among a growing crowd, first in English, then Spanish. On a sidewalk curb, a woman sat alone praying silently before joining a group of supporters- black, brown, yellow and white, toddlers and grandparents marching for equality. 

Bishop Minerva Carcaño took to the podium outside L.A.'s City Hall. (Ashley Riegle/NeonTommy)

The recent march and rally kicked off a nationwide bus tour by Fast for Families. The coalition of organizations aims to improve the lives of the 40 million immigrants (both legal and illegal) living in the US. For Los Angeles- where immigrants make up an estimated 35 percent of an increasingly multicultural populous- rallies for immigration reform are nothing new. But this recent downtown demonstration was different, because the sages of this pro-immigration reform are religious leaders; and their recommended method of disobedience is to pray and fast.

Wearing a sweatshirt with two words, “ACT. FAST.”, Rudy Lopez is a passionate crusader. Last year, he participated in a 22-day fast, eating nothing and drinking only water. Twenty three leaders made the commitment to fast as a means of peaceful protest and civil disobedience like that practiced by Cesar Chavez, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Their commitment inspired a visit by President Obama and the First Lady on the national mall.

“Estamos listos?” Lopez challenged the crowd. “Si se puede, si se puede!” We must be the messengers for those living in the shadows.

For the past two months a handful of immigration rights advocates have been visiting more than 75 congressional districts delivering a call for action. Two coach buses have taken northeast and southeast routes across the country, and will reconvene in Washington D.C. on April 9 to take their messages to the steps of the Capitol. 

Approximately 350 supporters attended the launch in downtown L.A. SEIU and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles had the most visible presence, but more than a dozen ethnic and religious groups came out in support such as Catholics for Change, Unitarian Universalist Association and the National Council of Jewish Women.

Outside City Hall, religious leaders took to the microphone offering blessings for the team that will lead the bus tour. Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church, prayed for House Speaker John Boehner. 

“Help to move the heart of Speaker John Boehner and to imagine what it would feel like if his own family was separated,” Carcaño said. 

Looking around the crowd, it was impossible not to note the presence of diverse religious leaders, some in clerical collars, others in yarmulkes.

Noel Andersen is a fourth-generation pastor with sandy hair and the slight twinge of a southern accent. Wearing a colorful stole, the 34-year-old United Church of Christ ordained pastor believes immigrant equality is a moral issue, one that presents an ethical responsibility to “pray and act and sacrifice for this critical social issue- of family separation- that continues to divide and devastate our communities.” 

Opponents of immigration reform argue that groups like those gathered Monday are fighting an uphill battle, and that given the Republican party’s recent pledge to fight all immigration reform in 2014, Fast for Families’ efforts are futile.

One lone heckler shouted out, “Barack Obama did not tell you to cross the border.” His calls were drowned out by the speakers. Failing to make a scene, he soon wandered away.

Immigration rallies are common in Cali., but this coalition has a unique focus. (Ashley Riegle/NeonTommy)

Marchers began on Alameda St. outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, then traveled west on Aliso St., south on Los Angeles St. and west on Temple, finally setting up outside City Hall. The chosen walking route- from a federal prison to the historically rich government building- conveyed the legal change Fast for Families hopes to achieve- removing the threat of criminal persecution and creating a path to citizenship.

Twenty-three-year-old Christian Avila is one of the younger advocates making the cross country bus trip. Originally from Mexico, Avila’s family came to the U.S. when he was 9 years old, settling in Arizona which he describes as “ground zero of this whole mess”. Avila, who is undocumented, learned he was ineligible for scholarships without a Social Security number. He says he’s fighting for the millions of undocumented kids who want to get an education.

“Faith is everything,” said Avila. “When you’re fasting, you have to fill yourself with something and spiritually that’s the prayers, the community coming together.” 

Reach Editor Ashley Riegle by email. Follow her on Twitter here.