(I'm continuing to write and post something each day that I am thankful for. Today I am thankful for our area activists and others working on various causes, in today's case, immigration)
I am thankful to be able to attend difficult but important, heart-breaking but essential events like this one tonight in Austin. The event was a "Community Conversation on Immigration" put on by the Travis County Democratic Party. Details here
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I am thankful events like this, and some of the social action events past and present that start here. I'm not sure those living in smaller towns are able to as easily attend events like the and the social action events.
While attending this I started taking notes as I sometimes revert to journalism mode and was considering writing another long think piece making lots of points, like I did at the Methodist panel.
Instead, I'll shoot - I can't promise I'll make it - to keep this short... well, at least shorter than it could have been.
Grassroots activists spoke of their objections to the for-profit detention centers. I'm proud to say I've participated at events opposing the two close ones, one by Dilley and one by Hutto.
Panelists explained that most of the people in the family detention centers and especially those women participating in a hunger strike there (link with info below) came to the United States not on a whim or to make more money but rather they were seeking asylum because they were fleeing nations where there was horrific violence. I talked about this some here, about the problems in Latin America sparking families, including an increase in unattended minors, crossing the border.
Many of those on the hunger strike and in the family detention centers - yes, kids are locked up too! - have been there more than six months, some longer than one year and some longer than that. The problem, a panelist said, is a shortage of immigration judges. Meanwhile, they're locked up with no bond and most Americans have no idea that this is even happening.
Here's a good update on the hunger strike as well as a spelling out of how the prison has responded to it. My favorite quote is that they are denying a hunger strike is happening but "“ICE has explained the negative health effects of not eating to our detainees.”
They also spoke about Gov. Abbott threatening to stop distributing some money to those cities deemed "sanctuary cities," and that was obviously not a particular popular action.
There was conversation and flyers about a planned march this weekend . "From November 19-21, documented and undocumented Texans will join together in a three day pilgrimage from a Hutto, Texas detention center to rally with thousands of Texas workers and families at the Texas Governor’s Mansion.
"It's the one year anniversary of President Obama's executive action on immigration, and we’ll ask Greg Abbott to meet with the families he hurt through his opposition to comprehensive immigration reform." More information here. This will culminate in an event at the Governor''s Mansion 12 to 2 pm on Nov, 21,
The most interesting part, for me, came near the end of this panel. There were later panels, one for legistlators and one for people running for county sherriff but I skipped that so I can get more sleep tonight.
That was when the topic turned to Paris and Isis and specifically Gov. Abbott's announcement - he says he wont allow any Syria refugees to be moved to Texas in light of the attacks on Paris
There was mention of plans being made - I'll post details when I hear them - about an organized protest about Abbott's Syria decision.
A speaker suggested that rather than seperate events this weekend, one about immigration from the southern border and one coming from Syria, that the two things combined together. Several panelists praised the idea both because there are similar and related issues and more importantly because its important to have a broad base of support so if they can work with other groups, and other groups with them, then that just makes sense.
This brought up the most interesting point, one I've wondered about. Americans look at the images of those refugees in Europe facing such hardships trying to move to better countries, fleeing violence and other dangers in their home country and they say tsk, tsk, panelist Richard Jung, Immigration Attorney, said.
He wonders what Europe would say if they could see video of the women and kids who came to Texas, similarly fleeing political and violent persecution, similarly declaring asylum and trying to work within the law... and see that these families are locked up in these family detention centers for more than one year, Jung said. What would they say of us?
Elizabeth Hartman, Executive Director of American Gateways, got more specific. She's glad Americans are supporting refugees seeking ayslum in Europe but wishes they would carry that support to their own country.
While shes almost always supportive of President Obama, Hartman said, she takes issue with the promise to resettle 10,000 Syrians. To be clear, she said, she supports that but what she objects to is the door being opened wider for refugees seeking asylum from Syria while it's still so hard for those trying to do so in Texas.
Panelists urged those present to tell five people what they heard and ask them to tell five others. So now you've read this and seen links to pieces telling more. Spread the word!
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