Protests against the Trump administration family separation policy

Protests against family separation policy
Part of protests against Donald Trump
Date June 30, 2018 (2018-06-30) (key rally) and other dates
Location Washington, D.C. and over 700 other U.S. cities, and others worldwide[1][2]
Type Demonstration (protest)
Theme Opposition to family separation
Cause Trump administration family separation policy
Organized by grassroots support, Families Belong Together, and other organizations
Participants protestors across the United States and some globally

Protests against the Trump administration family separation policy are a reaction to the Trump Administration policy of separating children from their parents or guardians who crossed the U.S. border either illegally or to request asylum, and jailing the adults, and locating the minors at separate locations under the care of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Background

Stop Separating Immigrant Families Press Conference and Rally, Chicago. (June 5, 2018)

The Trump Administration started a "zero tolerance" policy on May 7, 2018. which causes any person crossing the United States border to be able to be charged with a federal misdemeanor.[3] Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, announced that policy.[4] During remarks made on May 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona, he said, "If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you as required by law."[5] However, immigration rights activists have reported that children accompanying adults have been verified to be part of families, not part of a child trafficking scheme as suggested by Sessions.[6]

Because minors cannot be jailed, they are separated from their families.[3] Minors are housed in detention centers which can be made up of tents or other makeshift facilities.[7][8] Illegal border crossing is a crime in the United States.[9] However, migrants attempting to apply for asylum in the United States are also being denied entry.[9] In addition, immigration activists allege that parents are not being reunited with their children after the parents' sentence in detention is finished.[10] Sessions also announced that the United States would no longer accept asylum applications for migrants who are victims of domestic abuse or gang violence.[11]

Fundraising

Inspired by the viral photo of a crying two-year-old girl looking up at her mother, on June 16, 2018, a California couple started a fund-raising campaign on Facebook named "Reunite an immigrant parent with their child" with a goal of raising $1,500. As of June 20, more than $17 million had been raised.[12] The money will go to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, or RAICES, and provide legal aid for immigrant parents who have been arrested at the border.[13]

The photograph was taken by a professional photographer, John Moore, just after the mother was asked to set her child down to be body-searched before boarding the Border Patrol van and the little girl began to cry. The mother is from Honduras and had been traveling for a month.[14]

The photo has raised controversy after the father of the child said in an interview that the mother and daughter were now being detained together in McAllen, Texas. This has caused many in Trump's administration to rally against "fake news" with White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders tweeting that the Democrats and media "exploited this photo of a little girl to push their own agenda."[15]

A Portland, Oregon filmmaker, Linda Freeman produced a video Unaccompanied: Alone in America[16], in which children re-enact court transcripts of migrant children who have to represent themselves in immigration trials.[17] While this policy of children being unrepresented in court can be seen in 2005, however, the video is part of a fundraiser to provide legal counsel, services and efforts to reunify children with their families.

Celebrity donations

In response to the family separation policy many celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend donated to the ACLU, in response to the "...cruel, anti-family..." actions, that "...go against everything we believe this country should represent.[18] Others such as Jimmy Fallon have also donated to the Texas-based charity Refugee and Immigration Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), at times in Trump's name in protest the actions and policies of the Trump Administration.[19]

Protests

Protesters hold various signs at a "Families Belong Together" rally in San Francisco on June 23, 2018.
A protester compares child detention by the government to the Nazi concentration camps

During a Congressional hearing on May 8, 2018, a group of mothers and their children held a silent protest in opposition of the zero-tolerance policy.[5] Protests took place on May 31, 2018, in El Paso, Texas.[20] Around 100 protestors in front of the El Paso County Courthouse held an "Evening of Action" rally.[20] In San Antonio, around 300 people attended a #WhereAreTheChildren rally in Guadalupe Plaza.[15] Joaquin Castro spoke at the demonstration.[15] Some protesters compared the detainment of children by the U.S. government to the Nazi concentration camps.[21][22]

On June 1, "pop up protests" were planned in around 16 different states in a national day of action.[6] Hundreds protested the new policy, in Atlanta, New York City, Santa Monica and Washington, D.C. on June 1.[23] In Houston, protestors gathered outside the City Hall to demonstrate.[10] In Concord, demonstrators gathered in front of the federal building in that city.[24] There were around 50 people protesting outside the federal building in San Diego.[6] The protest in Memphis was organized in part by an attorney, Starkey Hahn.[25] A protest took place in Austin at Republic Square Park in the afternoon.[26] More than 100 people demonstrated outside the Immigration Services federal building in Los Angeles.[27] Around 100 people demonstrated outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Philadelphia.[28] In York County, Pennsylvania, people demonstrated outside of the York County Detention Center on June 2, 2018.[29]

On June 13, 2018, eight House Democrats blocked the streets to protest the family separation policy.[30] The protest started on the steps of the US Customs and Border Protection Building in Washington, D.C.[30] Luis Gutierrez, Joe Crowley, John Lewis, Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Al Green, Raúl Grijalva, Judy Chu, Adriano Espaillat and Jimmy Gomez were joined by hundreds of activists and actor, John Cusack.[30]

Some of the marches and protests were put together very quickly. The June 17, 2018 march in Tornillo, Texas, was planned in around two days.[31][32] Democratic politicians in Texas, including Beto O'Rourke and Veronica Escobar organized the march with a group called the Latino Victory Project.[33] Joe Kennedy III, Veronica Escobar, Lupe Valdez, Mary González, César Blanco, Lina Ortega and Gina Ortiz-Jones were also in attendance.[34][35] The march was protesting a detention center for children near the port of entry in Tornillo.[34] By June 16, 200 minors had been housed in the center which is made up of tents in an area that experiences extreme heat in the summer.[35][9] The march began at the Tornillo-Guadalupe Toll Plaza and out to the area containing the "tent city."[33] Also on June 17, 2018, hundreds of protesters gathered outside of an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey.[36] A vigil with around 200 people was held in McAllen, Texas, on June 17.[33] Seattle also had a protest which was held at Westlake Park.[37] Representative Jayapal was there to address the group.[37]

A planned "Rally for Migrants" was scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona.[38] On June 18, dozens of protesters showed up to demonstrate outside of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during the time that Attorney General Jeff Sessions was speaking.[4] Also on June 18, 2018, nearly 100 protesters took part in a New York City rally organized by the Asian American Federation of New York, calling attention to the arrest of Xiu Qing You by the ICE during a green card interview.[39]

Protesters demonstrated at La Guardia Airport in the evening of June 20.[40] There were around 200 protestors there to see unaccompanied immigrant minors being taken into New York.[40]

Rise and Resist

On July 4, 2018 a female affiliate of the group Rise and Resist, Therese Patricia Okoumou climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty to protest the separation of migrant families, and stayed there for nearly three hours.[41] Tourists were evacuated from Liberty Island while New York Police Officers responded to the scene and climbed up 100 ft (30 m) to reach her. She was charged with trespassing, interference with government agency functions, and disorderly conduct in a Manhattan Court on July 5.[42] US Attorney Geoffrey Berman released a statement, in which read that Okoumou "staged a dangerous stunt that alarmed the public and endangered her own life and the lives of the NYPD officers who responded...".[43]

Her actions were separate from an earlier protest by Rise and Resist that same day in which protesters unveiled an "Abolish ICE" banner on the statues pedestal. From that protest seven members of the organization were arrested.[44]

Families Belong Together

Rally in Washington, D.C. (June 30, 2018)

A series of protests called Families Belong Together were organized by a group of political organizations.[45][46] Protests took place on several dates in June in numerous cities including Washington, D.C., Boston, Fort Wayne, Seattle, San Francisco, New York,[46] Cleveland,[47] St. Louis,[48] and other cities. In Los Angeles, there were hundreds of protestors who marched from MacArthur Park to an immigrant detention center downtown.[49] There were also dozens of protestors in Huntington Village, New York.[49] In Austin, hundreds of protestors rallied at the Texas State Capitol.[50] In Eugene, at a protest held in Kesey Square, more than 100 people attended.[51] Akron, Ohio had 200 protesters.

On June 23, 2018, a rally in San Francisco drew more than 500 people.[52] The event was part of a series of preliminary protests before the nationally organized Families Belong Together protests in Washington, D.C., New York City, and 700 other cities and towns in United States.[1][2]

Women Disobey

Woman demanding the abolishment of ICE
Woman demanding the abolishment of ICE. (June 28, 2018)

On June 28, 2018, a protest in Washington, D.C. was organized by Women's March.[53] According to organizers, "2,500 women from 47 states participated in the protest."[54] Protesters blocked streets around the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building as they demanded to "abolish ICE", the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.[55] The protest concluded at the Hart Senate Office Building where 575 people were arrested following acts of mass civil disobedience.[56][57] This included Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington and actress Susan Sarandon.[54]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Protesters flood U.S. cities to fight Trump immigration policy". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Yoon-Hendricks, Alexandra; Greenberg, Zoe (June 30, 2018). "Protests Across U.S. Call for End to Migrant Family Separations". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Edwards, Haley Sweetland (June 14, 2018). "Parents Are Facing a Nightmare at the U.S. Border". Time. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018. anyone who crosses the border without authorization is now subject to prosecution for a federal misdemeanor
  4. 1 2 Clark, Marka (June 18, 2018). "Immigration protesters gather outside AG Jeff Sessions' speech in New Orleans". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Silva, Daniella (May 8, 2018). "Advocates walk out of hearing to protest plan to separate migrant families". NBC News. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Morrissey, Kate (June 1, 2018). "Protesters rally outside San Diego ICE office, condemn family separation". San Diego Union Tribune. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ Aguilar, Julian (June 15, 2018). "Trump administration opens tent city near El Paso to house separated immigrant children". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  8. ↑ Williams, Simon; Candelaria, Adriana. "Children seen playing soccer outside tents set up at Tornillo port of entry". KFOX. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 Gillman, Todd J. (June 16, 2018). "Ted Cruz again defends family separation, as Beto O'Rourke plans vigil at Tornillo tent camp". Dallas News. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Kriel, Lomi (June 1, 2018). "Democrats and protesters rally in Houston against family separations at the border". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ Halper, Evan (June 11, 2018). "Trump administration moves to block victims of gang violence and domestic abuse from claiming asylum". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Facebook fundraiser to help immigrant children tops $17 million with donations from around the world". WFAA. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  13. ↑ Hutchinson, Bill. "Facebook campaign tops $4 million to reunite immigrant families separated at border". ABC. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  14. ↑ "This 2-year-old has become the face of 'zero tolerance'". CNN. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 Foster-Frau, Silvia (May 31, 2018). "Hundreds join Castro to protest administration's separation policy". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Unaccompanied : Alone In America". UNACCOMPANIED. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Portland filmmaker's video of migrant kids in court goes viral". KGW. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Chrissy Teigen makes Trump's birthday great by donating to ACLU in installments of $72K". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Trump tells Fallon 'be a man'; 'Tonight Show' host responds by donating to refugees". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  20. 1 2 Borunda, Daniel (June 6, 2018). "U.S. immigration policy that separates immigrant children angers border, El Paso". El Paso Times. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  21. ↑ Mallory Shelbourne. "Hayden sees ‘commonality’ between zero-tolerance border policy and Nazi Germany.". The Hill (June 18, 2018).
  22. ↑ Emma Teitel. "Nazi Germany comparisons with family separation in U.S. are fair comment.". The Star (June 20, 2018).
  23. ↑ Rose, Joel; Penaloza, Marisa (June 1, 2018). "Protesters Across The U.S. Decry Policy Of Separating Immigrant Families". NPR.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  24. ↑ Allee, Daniela (June 1, 2018). "Rally Held In Concord To Protest Trump's Family Separation Policy". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  25. ↑ Williams, Rudy (June 2, 2018). "Local Activists Protest Forced Separation Of Immigrant Families". LOCALMEMPHIS. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  26. ↑ Hall, Katie (June 1, 2018). "Lawmakers, protesters rally in Austin against family separations at border". American-Statesman. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Protest forms in DTLA over Trump admin's separation immigration policy". ABC7 Los Angeles. June 1, 2018. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  28. ↑ Allyn, Bobby (June 1, 2018). "Philly protest, dozens more blast Trump for splitting up families at Mexican border : Community : WHYY". WHYY. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  29. ↑ Koerbler, Chelsea (June 3, 2018). "Two York County groups protest immigrant family separation". WPMT FOX43. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  30. 1 2 3 Nilsen, Ella (June 14, 2018). "House Democrats try civil disobedience to protest Trump's family separation policy". Vox. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  31. ↑ Domonoske, Camila (June 17, 2018). "Hundreds March To Texas Tent City Holding Detained Immigrant Kids". NPR.org. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  32. ↑ Beckett, Lois (June 17, 2018). "'It's on us all': Democrats press on border separations as White House digs in". the Guardian. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  33. 1 2 3 Kim, Vivekae (June 17, 2018). "'Free our children now' -- On the U.S.-Mexico border, activists protest separation of immigrant families". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  34. 1 2 González, María Cortés (June 17, 2018). "Beto O'Rourke leads Tornillo protest against separation of immigrant families". El Paso Times. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  35. 1 2 Aguilar, Julian (June 17, 2018). "Beto O'Rourke, Veronica Escobar lead Father's Day march on tent city housing separated immigrant children". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  36. ↑ Ax, Joseph. "Democrats, activists rally against Trump's family separation policy". U.S. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  37. 1 2 "'Families Belong Together' rally held in Seattle". KING. June 17, 2018. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  38. ↑ Forburger, Angela; Nanez, Dianna M. (June 16, 2018). "Phoenix church hosts Father's Day rally to protest immigration policy separating migrant families". AZCentral. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  39. ↑ Pereira, Ivan (June 18, 2018). "Groups demand ICE release immigrant dad from Flushing". am New York. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  40. 1 2 Surico, John (June 21, 2018). "Protesters Flock to La Guardia to Support Immigrant Children". New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  41. ↑ CNN, Brynn Gingras and Alanne Orjoux,. "A woman climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty on the Fourth of July to protest migrant family separations". CNN. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Statue of Liberty protester charged". BBC News. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Woman Who Unlawfully Climbed The Statue Of Liberty Arrested For Trespassing, Interference With Government Agency Functions, And Disorderly Conduct". www.justice.gov. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Protestors Arrested After Unfurling 'Abolish I.C.E.' Banner at Base of Statue of Liberty". Time. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  45. ↑ Rolen, Emily (June 14, 2018). "Families Belong Together hosting protest at Philly ICE office Thursday afternoon". PhillyVoice. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  46. 1 2 Stewart, Emily (June 15, 2018). "'Families Belong Together' rallies protesting family separation at the border, in tweets". Vox. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  47. ↑ Marcia Pledger. "Thousands protest in downtown Cleveland joining rallies nationwide: Families Belong Together". Cleveland Plain Dealer (June 30, 2018).
  48. ↑ "Families Belong Together rally held in St. Louis". WFMZ. June 14, 2018. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  49. 1 2 Arango, Tim; Cockrel, Kayla (June 14, 2018). "Marches Across the U.S. Protest Separation of Migrant Families". New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  50. ↑ Huber, Mary (June 14, 2018). "Hundreds rally at Texas Capitol to protest family separations at the border". Statesman. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  51. ↑ Powell, Meerah (June 14, 2018). "Families Belong Together Rally Brings Crowd to Kesey Square". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  52. ↑ Sepulvado, John; Hossaini, Sara (June 23, 2018). "Border Arrests to Continue as Family Detentions Spark Protests at Border and in San Francisco". KQED. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  53. ↑ Brice, Makini (June 28, 2018). "'Say it loud': Women march through Washington to protest immigration practices". Global News. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  54. 1 2 Chokshi, Niraj (June 29, 2018). "Hundreds Arrested During Women's Immigration Protest in Washington". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  55. ↑ Thomsen, Jacqueline (June 28, 2018). "#WomenDisobey march shuts down DC streets to protest Trump immigration policies". TheHill. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  56. ↑ Kirby, Jen (June 28, 2018). "Nearly 600 women arrested at immigration protests in Senate building". Vox. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  57. ↑ Lang, Marissa J. (June 28, 2018). "'We will not obey': 575 arrested as hundreds of women rally in D.C. to protest Trump's immigration policy". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
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