On Saturday April 5th, four Dominican Sisters started their own Hands-Off Advocacy at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin. Cathy Murray of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, Connie Kelly of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Arlene Flaherty of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, and Maureen Geary of the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids made signs and peacefully demonstrated their opposition to the administration’s policies, including the mistreatment of immigrants, global allies, persons who are vulnerable, and the Earth.
The advocacy was not a formal event; the sisters chose to demonstrate in order to preach Truth to power, even from abroad.
“It’s hard being over here and seeing what’s happening over there,” Dominican Sister of Hope Connie Kelly, OP said. “My hope is that President Trump will see the light that what his administration is doing is very wrong. This is not what the American people want.”
The sisters were respectfully questioned by guards but were allowed to stay. As bystanders saw the sisters, some joined them and a small crowd amassed. A few more people joined in with homemade signs.
One woman from Denmark approached the group and said “I stand with you. We’re going through the same thing [with the fight for Greenland].”
“I was blown away,” Sister Connie said. “It was a pretty powerful statement of being one universe. Even though I’m an American and she’s from Denmark, we are one.”
The sisters plan to continue to voice their opposition by participating in economic blackouts, writing poetry, signing petitions, and demonstrating when appropriate.