Sanctuary Song tells the story of the drowning of Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez and his two-year old daughter, Valeria, on the banks of the Rio Grande River on June 23, 2019. Sanctuary Song is an elegy to Oscar and Valeria, and a general call for mercy, compassion, and justice.

no human being
is illegal

black lives matter

oscar and valeria

oscar and valeria

Sanctuary Song

Written by Richard Fortmann
Variation and Arrangment by Jeff Thomas

Sanctuary Song was written and composed to be performed by choirs or small groups. If you’d like to obtain a copy of the score for a performance of Sanctuary Song, please contact us. We give audience to short works by ordinary people speaking to what they see happening and what is to be done about it. If you have a story, poem, or sound recording, or if you have recorded Sanctuary Song, please contact us to include your work on this site.

“Sanctuary Song is a poignant memorial to the treacherous journey that many people take in hopes of a better and a safe life in the United States of America. Having worked closely with young immigrant women seeking asylum through Bethany House of Hospitality in Chicago over the past 3 years, I was touched by the depth of emotion conveyed in this video and grateful to its creators for the vivid testimony to the dangers such a journey involves and the courage it takes for human beings to leave home into this unknown reality. I believe this video can be a very important learning tool for sharing that migratory journey with others.”

Patricia Crowley
O.S.B. Benedictine Sisters of Chicago & Bethany House of Hospitality
June 7, 2020

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contact@sanctuarysong.com

ABOUT US

Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sanctuary Song is a non-partisan group of community-minded individuals and organizations, both secular and faith-based, seeking justice for all human lives, regardless of race, creed, sex, gender identity, or country of origin. Contact us to learn more and share ideas.