More than 650 Kansans from across the state gathered in the second-floor rotunda of the Kansas State Capitol on January 14, 2026, for the Human Needs Are Human Rights Rally, a peaceful demonstration urging lawmakers to pursue policies rooted in human dignity rather than political fear. Advocates addressed a wide range of concerns, including immigration, voting rights, healthcare access, and affordable housing, while encouraging participants to engage directly with their legislators.
Representing the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, Ashley Hernandez spoke about the realities inside the nation’s immigration detention system. She named the lack of adequate medical care, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, prolonged confinement without due process, and the separation of families as violations of basic human dignity.
“Human dignity should never depend on one’s citizenship status,” Hernandez said, calling on people of faith and conscience to reject systems that treat migrants as disposable and to demand accountability, humane reform, and care for the most vulnerable.
Sister Therese Bangert followed with a passionate, faith-filled call to action, reminding those gathered that loving one’s neighbor must be reflected in public policy. Framing advocacy as an expression of the Golden Rule shared across the world’s religions, she urged Kansans to move beyond divisions and seek the common good for all.
Speaking directly to participants, Sister Therese encouraged them to visit their legislators’ offices while at the Capitol, to name the issues they care about, and to remain engaged beyond the rally. Drawing on the witness of Sojourner Truth and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she reminded the crowd that faith is strongest when it fuels courage, unity, and persistent hope.
Together, the voices raised in the rotunda echoed a shared conviction: human needs are human rights, and Kansans have both the power and the responsibility to advocate for policies that reflect compassion, justice, and care for one another.
