Kaji Douša facts for kids

Kaji Spellman Douša (born August 22) is an American Christian minister. She is also an activist who works for the rights of immigrants. She used to lead a group called the New Sanctuary Coalition NYC.

About Kaji Douša

Kaji Douša is the main pastor at the Park Avenue Christian Church in Manhattan. This church is very old, over 200 years old! Pastor Douša is the first woman to be the Senior Pastor there.

Early Life and Education

Kaji Douša was born on August 22 in the United States. Her parents, Karen and A.B. Spellman, were important civil rights activists. She is the younger of their two children. She also has a half-brother named Malcolm Spellman. Pastor Douša is married and has one child.

She went to the University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, she studied at Yale Divinity School. There, she earned a Master of Divinity degree.

Working for Justice

Pastor Douša is known for her work as an activist. She believes in fairness and helping people.

Supporting Civil Rights

In the summer of 2020, Pastor Douša helped lead many rallies and marches. These events happened after the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. During this time, she and other Black women clergy members started a group. It is called Daughters 4 Justice (D4J).

This group works with lawmakers and the police in New York City. Their goal is to make public safety better for everyone. Daughters 4 Justice believes that if a city is safe for Black children, it will be safe for all children.

Helping Immigrants

Pastor Douša is also a strong supporter of immigrant rights. In 2017, she spoke out against holding immigrants in detention. She even gave a sermon about it that was featured in the Washington Post.

In 2019, she was stopped by border agents. This happened when she returned to the U.S. after helping migrants in Tijuana, Mexico. She believes she was put on a watch list. This list included many people who worked on issues at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Fighting for Rights in Court

Pastor Douša felt her rights were violated. So, in July 2019, she filed a lawsuit. It was called Douša v. U.S.. She sued the Department of Homeland Security. She said they violated her First Amendment rights. These rights protect freedom of speech and religion.

Many religious leaders supported her lawsuit. Over 850 of them signed a letter to show their support. In March 2023, Kaji Douša won her civil rights lawsuit against the government. This was a big victory for her and for others working for justice.