June 26, 2018: In the past two weeks, media from all over the world have broadcasted the monstrous events going on in Texas, in which immigrant families have been torn apart and left in utter confusion and terror, where they know nothing of what they will face next. On social media, numerous journalists and activists have shared with the entire world the shocking inhumane conditions the children are living under: From the start they’ve been mocked by border patrol officers; they’ve been held in cages and detention centers; and appallingly, together with their parents, they have been dehumanized by many politicians and political pundits. The fight in the media still continues with many far-right journalists and commentators stating how immigrant children deserve such treatment and even referring to them as “child actors.”
Fortunately, many filmmakers, artists and the wider public have gathered together on social media and started collecting money, writing petitions against separation, creating memorable and courageous posters in support of the immigrant families, and organizing massive protests against the detention centers and the separation of families. Within just a few days, they’ve created a strong visual message that no one can turn away from.
This has resulted in many shares, where immediately, people have told their own stories of immigration, detention and separation and what it means to have separation anxiety.
All across the United States and in Washington, D.C., on June 30, there will be large protests against Trump’s zero tolerance policy called “Families Belong Together,“ sponsored by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and MoveOn. Many passionate activists have spoken out about the importance of the protests and why people need to pay attention now more than ever.
Tana Pradia, co-chair of PWN-USA Texas Greater Houston Area, will be joining the protest in Brownsville, Texas, on June 28. Her first reaction to Trump’s new policy was anger and worry, since she could not even imagine that something like this could happen today so quickly. “This is heartbreaking to me as a mother to have these children go through the trauma of being apart from their parents. The damage that is being done to their children emotionally is heartbreaking,” said Pradia. She explained how she has spoken to her friends who are immigrants and have children: They are petrified of the entire situation and won’t let their children out of their sight.
Overall, she has been very surprised by the media: both how quickly they’ve reacted to the situation and how they are trying hard to demonstrate to their audience not only the situation, but the consequences the children and parents might face now and later. She sent out an important message: “My hope, after the protests going on around the country, is that these families will be reunited quickly. No child or family should have to go through this heartache or this kind of treatment from anyone.”
Francine will also be attending the protest with her PWN Greater Houston Area chapter sisters. Francine explained that this protest gives her hope but also saddens her at the same time: the U.S. still has to fight for basic human rights, yet this administration is trying to do everything to tear families apart, causing chaos and fear among young people. “I have hope that so many people across the country have been galvanized into action against this ridiculous policy. It also makes me a little sad, because it seems like EVERYONE is up in arms about this when, at the same time, black men, women and children and our transgender sisters in our country are being murdered at epic proportions, but only a small number of people feel moved to protest.”
Francine said she hasn’t so far had an argument with someone about this policy; yet she looks back on years ago, while she attended school and had friends whose parents were immigrants. She recalls how similar their stories were: how they carried only a few clothing items, even some children wrapped up special mementos from their home in a piece of material and many told stories of their home and what their hopes were for America. She remembers this story and realizes how many of them as young children valued the small important moments that define happiness and luck.
“I never really understood the sacrifices their folks (or for that matter, my own mother who was a single parent) made to be here until I grew up,” Francine said. “Today I realize, we were different…but we were the same. I had a single mom struggling just like their parents were struggling; the difference was, my mom and I spoke English, so we didn’t have the extra burden of trying to communicate.”
One of her main concerns is that social media is becoming more of a tool for a reaction instead of a tool to inspire proactivity, which can lead sometimes to ignorance. Towards the end of the conversation, she warned: “I’d like people to be motivated to read between the lines and past all the campaign rhetoric and determine whether that candidate’s strategies align with their own. Ask themselves, ‘Is this person good for me and my family?’, get better educated and head to the polls armed with knowledge they can elect the RIGHT person for that particular position…not only in November, but every time there is an off-cycle election across this nation, I’d like to expect we realize that change begins with us and we become the change we want to see.”
Jessi Mona Cartwright Biggs is attending the protest to be a loud and influential voice to those who are voiceless, informing people what is going on and what people are ignoring. Biggs has already attended several protests alone. To her, this is one of the most crucial moments in U.S. history. “To me, the protest means I do not agree with, nor do I support, what the current POTUS and Administration are doing. When I protest in public, it brings focus to the injustice of targeting and removing totally innocent children from their families. It is a show of force and public support,” explained Biggs.
She also highlighted how she has had a discussion with people who support the zero-tolerance policy. “All are Black Americans; 2 women in mid-70’s and a man who is 69 years young. They basically all had the same sentiment: ‘This is just history doing what history does; repeat itself. In the 1600 century slaves had their families torn apart; they were separated from their children and other family members. This is nothing new.’ The powers that be committing these atrocities then are the ancestors of the same powers that be committing these atrocities today with families being separated at the border,” described Biggs.
Find a June 30 event happening near you here.