June 30th, 2018 marked a historical day where thousands of people from more 700 different cities marched against the Trumps Administration’s family separation and retention policies.
Activists were able to organize a nationwide protest this weekend to advocate for immigrant rights and further demand for the Trump Administration to reunite families and end family separation and retention at the border.
The Families Belong Together March initial organizers marched in Washington, DC. and were expecting 700 other cities to join the fight. This was a powerful moment for America as many joined in protest for unity within the country and especially within the immigrant community in the United States.
As many thousands of protesters walked down the streets of many cities, they held signs “No Human is Illegal” and “Familias Merecen Estar Unidos”. Thus challenging America’s policy and beliefs about immigration.
For centuries, The United States has had a history of treating immigrants as subhumans and alienating them from the larger society and natural human rights. In recent years, with the increase in deportation, many families continue to be separated. Parents who are undocumented and have children who are American citizen were often deported and thus separated from their families and leaving many children alone in a country that marginalizes them.
“The Zero tolerance policy is Trump’s zero-tolerance policy, and has the ability to get rid of that policy at any time,” said Jess Morales Rocketto, the policy director of the National Domestic Worker Alliance, one of the many groups that are organizing the protest. He continued his statement by saying that “We’re not going to stop organizing until the end of zero-tolerance policy. That’s ultimately what created this crisis, and our demand has been so clear from the very beginning that that’s what needs to happen.”
Since the zero-tolerance policy was implemented by the Trump administration, many injustices of violations of human rights have been committed against undocumented immigrants. Though what tipped the iceberg was the fact that innocent children were being caged up and abused in detainment camps.
President Trump signed an executive order last week that ended the large scale practice of splitting up parents and kids, but his administration will continue to detain families.
In addition to this, there are still more than 2000 children who have been separated from their families and many remain displaced. Though, there are many policy issues revolving around the immigration policies that it is making it very difficult for families to reunite. Aside from policy, many families are afraid to come forward with the law from fear of deportation.
A judge has recently ordered the Trump Administration to speed up family reunifications and stop deporting parents without their kids, but bureaucratic hurdles remain.
Even as the administration reunites families, it’s seeking to deport them together. It is also proposing a rule that would radically change the detainment camp policies.
The zero-tolerance immigration policy has united activist nationwide, thus protesting for unity.
It is a chilling protest, as many liberals gather around the world to recognize the struggle of a group of people that has often been ignored due to their legality.
Spontaneous protest have also broken out across the country. Especially after Melania Trump was seen wearing a jacket that said, “I don’t really care, do you?” while visiting a detainment camp in Texas. This caused even more anger amongst the public which ended up uniting even more people to protest about these unfair policies.
On Thursday, about 600 women were arrested for practicing their freedom of speech, the protest was organized by the Women’s March. Which resulted in hundreds of protesters taking over a senate office building to call for the abolition of ICE and the end of family separation and detention.
Still, we remain that democracy will rise and the people voice could be heard for the sake of civil rights for immigrants.
Featured Image via Familiesbelongtogether.org
