A few words from Linda
The deployment of the National Guard and the mass swooping in by ICE into workplaces in an aggressive, militarized stance is fueling terror and trauma in our communities. It is outrageous and blatant that our working-class communities are targeted as enemy territory and violent criminals in a warlike escalation by bringing in armed national forces. Our communities are filled with parents, families, children, and hard-working people trying to sustain their lives and build and better life for themselves and contribute to their communities. It is to protect their ability to safely raise their children --- without fear, stress of profiling and targeting them with the potential of tearing families apart that we can’t stay silent and must voice our opposition to all intimidation tactics and provocation of violence, and destruction of property. This is not an example of a civil or democratic society.
We have already seen the stress on children and families who have experienced being profiled before this recent string of events. Threats of mass deportation and the fear of families being torn apart or unlawfully detained has put many of us in the child care and human services field on high alert. We have worked hard to support families and help them become self-sufficient, building hopeful and resilient communities that support one another during tough times. This is why we have worked hard to ensure that places such as school sites, worksites, child care centers, and places where families with young children congregate do not become traumatic battlefields that violate one’s basic dignity or humanity.
It is our job to keep children and families safe. Not only must we protect the sacred places where children and their caregivers go to grow, learn and feel safe, we stand with them to protect their children from harm. We also stand by everyone’s right to peacefully protest, work to support themselves and towards the basic human rights of others.
Let us show our children who are watching, that terrorizing and bullying each other with lethal and harmful weapons, scapegoating and “othering” people while destroying what people and communities have worked hard to build, is not the answer or future they are to inherit.
De-escalate the tension, intimidation, and silencing of voices, NOW! Stop mass, illegal roundup of individuals and ensure that lawful due processes and basic human rights are met.