Last month, Sunshine Cathedral Bishops Durrell Watkins and Robert Griffin joined interfaith leaders from across the state of Florida to pray at Alligator Alcatraz and for the detainees therein. Not all detainees were afforded due process, and the conditions of the center are utterly unacceptable. Stories of flooding, air conditioning being turned off, detainees given only a couple of minutes to eat, inadequate water pressure for flushing toilets, uncontrolled mosquitoes, dozens of people sharing quarters (referred to as “cages”), and there was even a story of someone being held in a “hot box” for 4 hours.
The questionable legality, the lack of ethics, the absence of human compassion, and the unhealthy living conditions were what brought faith leaders across the state to pray for justice and for better treatment until justice prevails. Sunshine Cathedral was present for that inaugural prayer vigil, which takes place every Sunday at 5 pm. Different churches lead each vigil. On September 28, Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale and Joy Metropolitan Community Church of Orlando will co-host the vigil. All persons of faith, any faith, whether they be clergy or lay, are invited to attend the vigil. For more information, visit SunshineCathedral.org.
