Jericho Walks begin, faith leaders and allies conduct demonstration at Federal Plaza

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, the New Sanctuary Coalition restarted its Jericho Walk tradition at Federal Plaza in New York City. A group of 35 faith leaders, organizers, and other immigrants’ rights supporters marched in a line around the building seven times, pausing at the entrance at the beginning of each lap to hold their hands up toward the building in silent prayer. After the last lap, they read aloud “Jericho Prayer”:

Dear God, you are a God of love and you call us to love and to take care of each other so that we can build a society of love, peace and justice.

In this country founded on principles of liberty and justice, millions of our brothers and sisters live under unfair laws that discriminate against them. Millions of our families are divided and separated. Parents and loves ones are deported. Every day, millions of people suffer the pain and anguish of not being able to live in dignity.

That’s the reason why we are here today in this significant place that represents the wall of injustice that divides us.

We know that you are a fair God and that you have listened to our prayers. We know that in the fullness of time, you will bring down these walls of injustice. We know that you will help us soften the hearts of our government, politicians and all people so that, every soon, we can have a new immigration law that protects the dignity of all.

We pray that you will GIVE US ALL THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN JUSTICE, IN SOLILDARITY AND IN TRUTH. Amen

Upon the conclusion of the prayer, the group delivered a primal scream at the building as Ravi Ragbir blew a shofar.

The Jericho Walk is a reference to the biblical story in which Israelites topple the walls surrounding the city of Jericho by marching around them for seven days before finally destroying them with shouts and horn blasts.

New Sanctuary Coalition will be performing the the Jericho Walk at Federal Plaza on a weekly basis at noon.

Photo by Gil Geitz

A group of about 20 people stand outdoors in a line formation, dressed for winter, holding their arms up in the direction of Federal Plaza. Ravi Ragbir stands in front of them blowing into a shofar (a hollowed out ram's horn).