Work, silliness, immigrant rights

I worked pretty hard today and had some fun while doing it... maybe overblogging on the work-blog a bit (who would have guessed?) and I hope not with too much silliness (I can't help the sense of humor.)

The upsetting thing today was an incident that happened - apparently last week! in our school district. I got several emails and phone calls about it today. An ICE officer was staking out the sidewalk outside a local elementary school and confronting people bringing their kids to school, asking them if they were citizens and if they had proof, etc. One woman was arrested and taken off screaming for help in Spanish while people around cried in shock... That's the story... It's horrifying no matter how it happens, but this particularly hits home.

Another mom was arrested and is in jail. All I know is she's a single mom and has two kids, who are both U.S. citizens, and they're with an uncle. I think about this and wish I could help out directly. Maybe... And I can certainly blog it up and try to find out if there's a way to help her pay her (reportedly huge) fine. Who knows what will happen? A teacher who was spreading the word about this just told the story and said it was horrible to her to think how hard this mom has worked to provide for her kids in very tough circumstances and now, this. Imagine dropping your kids off at school and then being arrested and hauled off...

BAIRC has a pamphlet, "Know your rights" which explains that you don't have to answer any questions they ask you if you're accosted by an immigration official or police. You have the right to a lawyer, etc.

I'll also try calling BAIRC and the school district people and my congressperson... and put in my 2 cents and ask for how I can help.

So while I am very happy to have a job... with congenial people... and am surrounded by so much amazingness, I am bummed out that this is happening right in my backyard. I know that injustice is everywhere but let's try to respond to what's right in our own communities.

Technorati Tags: social justice

Comments

[gwendomama]

holy fucking fuck!
what school?
RC district?