Latest news with #PeacefulStandTogether
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Religious leaders, refugees call for unity at ‘Peaceful Stand Together' gathering
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Religious leaders in Baton Rouge came together to speak about immigration. 'How can you say you love God if you don't love your neighbor that you see?' asked L.O.R.I. Communications Director Sharon Njie. That question hung in the air Tuesday as religious leaders and community members gathered for the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants' (LORI) 'Peaceful Stand Together' event — a day of storytelling, open dialogue, and reflection amid mounting global and national tensions over immigration. Held in Baton Rouge, the event brought together representatives from Christian, Catholic, Muslim, and other faith communities, who took part in a public panel discussion about the moral imperatives of their traditions in the face of current crises, including immigration raids and refugee displacement. 'Everyone needs to stand together and come together in unity and know that we need to live by the words of God: love thy neighbor as you will love yourself,' said L.O.R.I. Policy Associate Tia Fields, echoing the day's central theme of unity over division. The message resonated deeply with Njie, a migrant who fled political turmoil in her home country. 'I've lost families,' she said. 'If I look back home, all I see are graves. I came into this country with no family, but the families I have are the people standing next to me.' As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue in cities like Los Angeles, President Donald Trump has defended his administration's stance on immigration, pointing to national security and economic concerns. 'Very simply, we will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again,' Trump said earlier this week. 'It's happening very quickly.' But those at the Louisiana gathering offered a different vision — one grounded in empathy, justice, and inclusion. 'There are so many challenges that we face in this world,' said Fields. 'I think now is the time — more than ever — to open our doors, not close them.' Each faith leader emphasized a shared moral calling: to see the humanity in every person and to stand with the marginalized. The stories shared ranged from personal loss and migration to acts of community service and solidarity. 'And I still try to ensure that I give back to this community,' Njie said. 'Not just giving back in the work I do on a local level, but also on a national level.' For attendees, the gathering was more than an event — it was a call to action. A reminder that compassion, not fear, should guide public policy and personal conviction. Chris Olave back on the field healthy for the New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints feel hunger, not urgency to get back to winning ways Religious leaders, refugees call for unity at 'Peaceful Stand Together' gathering Amazon impacts Baton Rouge economy; pushes businesses to grow Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia argue for 'due process' in new court filing Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon impacts Baton Rouge economy; pushes businesses to grow
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Amazon is fast-tracking its economic development with new jobs and training. 'Our starting wage in our facility in Baton Rouge ranges from $17.50 an hour to a little bit above that, especially for our team members who are coming on a night shift or weekend shift,' said Regional Leader and Senior Economic Development Manager at Amazon, Jessica Breaux. 'The really cool thing I think is they get benefits on their very first day in employment.' It's one of the biggest names in global commerce, but in Baton Rouge, Amazon is building more than just distribution centers. President of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Gregory Wood, said it's building a support system for businesses to grow. 'BTR1 was the location of the old Cortana Mall, and during that time, that particular area was seeing some decline in business licenses and other businesses supporting the surrounding area,' said Wood. Although there are a lot of great businesses in the Baton Rouge area, Wood believes other businesses should take note of what Amazon is doing for their employees. 'I think what people need to understand, and look at, is what Amazon is offering their employees, and I think existing businesses need to take note of what Amazon is doing to lure employees into their workforce as well,' said Wood. Religious leaders, refugees call for unity at 'Peaceful Stand Together' gathering Amazon impacts Baton Rouge economy; pushes businesses to grow Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia argue for 'due process' in new court filing 'Immaturity': Rand Paul rips White House after being 'uninvited' from picnic White House says 330 immigrants arrested in L.A. since Friday Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
