I was arrested at a protest. It felt like Quaker worship.
Aurora Reardanz was detained at a protest this spring, and she calls it the most spiritually aligned action she’s ever taken. What do you do when your faith won’t let you stay seated? Can you see the Light in the people you’re protesting against? This week, Aurora shares how more than a decade of protest, from Black Lives Matter in DC to rallies for Palestine to standing against ICE in Philadelphia, is rooted in her Quaker faith and values.
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Transcript
Arrest Footage
You’re upholding the system that killed Parady La. You’re upholding the system that killed Renée Good. You’re upholding the system that killed Parady La.
Aurora Reardanz
There was something in that day that I wasn’t expecting, of I felt similar to like when you’re moved to speak in Quaker meeting, that shaking, that heart racing, that feeling like you cannot remain seated.
Title Screen
Aurora Reardanz
My name is Aurora Reardanz. I live in South Philly, but I’m from Maryland. I’m a recently convinced Quaker. I became a member at Arch Street Friends January of 2026. Most of my action and the way I show up in the world is grounded in Quaker values and Quaker education. To be a Quaker is to try to hold that consistent experience of the divine and continue to show up for earthly duties and in your everyday life. As I got more involved in immigration action in Philadelphia, I knew that I wanted to be doing more and that I wanted to raise my personal risk tolerance and take action that felt really brave and meaningful, and the opportunity came to be part of a civil disobedience action with No ICE Philly. April 3 when I was detained. Of all the actions I think I’ve ever taken, protest wise, is the one that felt the most spiritually aligned.
TITLE: 2015
The very first protest I ever went to was in 2015. I just started attending Sandy Spring Friends School, and the Westboro Baptist Church was protesting another local school, Churchill High School’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance. And we showed up with this counter protest of love and acceptance. My high school’s mantra was “Let your lives speak.” It was on my undergraduate graduation cap
Aurora Reardanz Graduation Speech
How will you now go out into the world and let your lives speak. Creating a life that stands for not only who you are, but what you stand for and all of that you have learned.
Aurora Reardanz
Some of the other SPICE do have factors, but the one that is most core to why I act and how I act is I for integrity. Because who am I to say? Oh, this is what I believe. I think this is wrong. Okay, who cares what I think? What am I doing to actually change it.
TITLE: 2020-2022
Black Lives Matter Movement 2020
We want to come to show with our bodies that enough is enough.
Palestine Protest 2021
Gaza Gaza don’t you cry, Palestine will never die. Free Free Palestine
Reproductive Rights Protest 2022
Abortion is a human right. Fight fight, abortion is a human right.
Aurora Reardanz
I was radicalized. I was mobilized. I was showing up to protest, but I wasn’t in community. I wasn’t taking strategic action. I wasn’t thinking long term, and that didn’t happen until summer of 2025
TITLE: 2025
Aurora Reardanz
In Philadelphia with the increased mobilization of ICE, with my journey in Quaker community, and this like leading and path that I’ve been on, finding Quakerism, finding that inner peace, that community helps ground me. Before you listen to your meeting, before you listen to your government, you need to discern, spend time in worship, listen to your inner light, and really figure out these things for yourself before you show up in the world.
Arch St Friends & New Sanctuary Movement Immigrant solidarity vigil 2026
When does the service begin? And the person answers when the meeting ends. So some of you are sitting here in silence, unfamiliar with Quaker worship, thinking, “Oh, when are we going to start? What’s happening next?” The service begins when we end here today.
Aurora Reardanz
We showed up and Vigiled, and I made a sign that said, “I’m holding you and all the people you harm in the light”. I think if we recognize the humanity and the light in the people doing these horrible things, that it’s possible that we can reach them. That it’s possible we can make changes that could bring about a more peaceful world. Because yes, you could stop a harm in this world with violence, but violence propagates more violence. Quakers historically have been so incredibly radical at standing for justice. Let’s honor that history and let’s continue that into 2026. How can I show up as a Quaker in 2026 with the history of my religion and become a good ancestor?
TITLE: APRIL 3, 2026
8th and Cherry Protest at ICE headquarters
“We will abolish ICE. Together, we will abolish ice”
Aurora Reardanz
A group of activists gathered at Eighth and Cherry at the ICE headquarters. We linked arms and stood in front of the ICE garages. These garages are used for the agents to leave the building and go out and take our neighbors. And each of us are wearing name of somebody who was killed in ICE custody. And we go into a die-in, and as we’re doing the die-in, the. Religious group who is vigiling comes by and starts like praying over us, and it was very beautiful. And then you know I’m sort of gotten up by the police officers. I’m walked to the paddy wagon with my other activists, and I begin singing those sort of same songs again.
“Together, we will abolish ICE”
Aurora Reardanz
I got home after you know being processed at the station and released. I felt so proud, and I came to a meeting for worship here on Sunday. I was sitting in the back, and I shared as a joy my experience at the protest that Friday, and was brought to tears.