Sanctuary is an ancient practice honored in many societies and religious traditions. Stories of giving and seeking sanctuary can inspire people to give refuge to strangers in our own community. Linda Rabben will explore stories of sanctuary throughout history, including the Underground Railroad, the Kindertransport rescue effort of Jewish children before World War II, Holocaust rescues, and the 1980s Sanctuary Movement. She also will analyze the current political debate over sanctuary cities, including Takoma Park which declared itself a sanctuary city more than 30 years ago.

Rabben is a longtime Takoma Park resident, human rights activist, and associate research professor of anthropology at the University of Maryland. She has written about migration issues for 20 years. Her latest book, "Sanctuary and Asylum: A Social and Political History," was published in 2016.