Dear Casa San José Amigos,
This week was all about DACA: our hearts are broken, but our spirit is strong, and we still have hope. (See ACTION below.)
On Tuesday, a group of 43 demonstrators organized by Casa San José got up before dawn to get on a bus for DC. They included many of our Latino community members, supporters, Casa staff and volunteers, and a group of 8 from Cleveland who started their trip at midnight.
In DC, our group enthusiastically joined hundreds of other protestors, who came with CASA, Make The Road, United We Dream and other organizations. (Video here.) The march began at the White House and went on to the Dept. of Justice and ICE headquarters. Our banner (pictured) was acclaimed as one of the best, the chanting was strong and spirits were high.
But just after 11 a.m., as journalists began to approach the marchers with microphones, asking "What will you do now?" everyone came to the realization that in fact DACA had just been rescinded, and the new grim reality set in. The ride back to Pittsburgh was very sad, full of anxiety, fear, and tears. What the future holds is unknown.
Monica and Jeimy will be meeting with Dreamers and parents in Pittsburgh next week about their ideas of what to do next.
ACTION:
- It's more important now than ever to appeal to Senators and Representatives in Congress to make DACA into law. News is breaking hourly about bringing the Dream Act up for a vote. Please keep calling your Members of Congress (contact info. here) to ask them to support it. If you have time, go on to these actions suggested by United We Dream.
- PICC offers some "Tips for Allies Supporting Immigrant Communities"
- DO
- Respect people’s boundaries. People are still processing what this announcement means for them and their families and may not be ready to speak to press, your church, or even you, about their story
- Donate to help people file their DACA renewals. The PA is Ready! fund will be giving scholarships to help all eligible Pennsylvanians apply for DACA by Oct. 5th. A DACA Scholarship donation link will be available within the next 24 hours. More info on PICC's website and Facebook.
- Show up and take action. Call your Representatives, attend events organized by community-led groups, donate space for communities to gather, educate your family and friends about DACA and immigration issues (see PICC’s toolkits for help)
- Sign up for PICC's email updates
- DON'T
- Blame immigrant parents. When you say DACA recipients are “innocent” or “blameless” you are implying their parents did something wrong by fighting for a better life for their family
- Speak for or over immigrants. Always center the voices of immigrants and speak only of your own experiences and views
- Perpetuate the Good/Bad immigrant narrative. Immigrants deserve respect and protection because they are fellow human beings, not because they are the “best and brightest” or “hard workers”
ASSISTANCE:
- 412 Resistance is hosting a 4.12K run/walk with all proceeds going to Casa San José on Sunday, Oct. 8. Location: Southside Riverview Park. **Registration deadline to receive t-shirt and tote is Sept. 16. Participants 12 and under register for free and each child will receive a special thank you prize. More info. here. See you on the trail!
- We need volunteers to do activities with children at the Fiesta de Herencia Hispana at St. Catherine’s Church in Beechview on Sunday, Sept.17, from 2-4 pm. Casa will provide the materials, games, etc. If you can do this, please contact Sister Valerie at srvalerie@casasanjose.org.
- Reserve your tickets now (click here to get them and more info.) for the super celebration "¡Que Viva Clemente!" Saturday, Oct. 7 from 7-10 pm at Alphabet City on the North Side. Proceeds go to support our work at Casa San José. It's an annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the legacy of the great humanitarian and Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, organized by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). Guests will enjoy wonderful Flamenco dance and music from Alba Flamenca and deliciously authentic Latin American cuisine along with fine craft beer and homemade sangria
Casa San José on Wednesday released a statement on the DACA situation:
SUGGESTED reading - local coverage of Dreamers and demonstrators:- Casa San Jose is deeply distressed by the administration’s decision to rescind the DACA program that has benefitted more than 800,000 immigrants in our communities across the country. For the past five years, these youths have been able to live, work, attend college and contribute as valuable cross-cultural citizens of this country. They have blended into our society, been empowered to become self-sufficient, contributed to our economy, and greatly enhanced the cultural diversity that is a core component of how our country was founded and grown. We stand by Article 15 of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights—“Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his/her nationality, nor denied the right to change their nationality.”
- Dozens show up at legislator's office to protest president's plans to end DACA, Post-Gazette, Sept. 6.
- Leaders and Dreamers in Pittsburgh region react to Trump administration's decision to end DACA, Post-Gazette, Sept. 6.
