Yesterday, I went to the Lights for Liberty rally in Buffalo with Jude and Jessica. Jude (pictured here with me) is also known as the Button Lady. She has a machine and she makes all sorts of buttons. She creates buttons for candidates and for various causes. Sometimes, the buttons are poignant, and sometimes, they are funny. This time, her buttons were more poignant than funny. Jude was quite popular with the media because of her basket of buttons, which she happily distributed, and because of her baby Trump balloon, which she displayed to best effect, despite the balloon’s lack of size.
Last night, we listened in silence as the names of deceased migrants were read out loud.
media coverage
We listened with saddened hearts to stories told by migrant children about shocking conditions in detention facilities.
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They talked about not having soap and toothbrushes and beds and blankets. The young mothers talked about having no changes of clothing or diapers for their babies. The children talked about being separated from parents and grandparents. Some of them were as young as five years old. Kindergarteners.
The event planner holds the microphone for her daughter, who reads a letter written about conditions in the detention facilities by a young child. |
A few hundred persons stood on the grass at the corner of Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Avenue, holding up signs that asked for the U.S. government to respect the basic human rights of people who have come to this nation, seeking asylum. As darkness fell, we held up candles and flashlights to shine a light in an impenetrable darkness that was darker than the fading light in the sky.
This breaks my heart. Good for you for going.
I'm Canadian and therefore don't have the power of the vote. All I can do is let people know what is happening. I'm going to post a link to my FB.
Years ago Joan Baez sang “Detainee”. Powerful. You all are to be commended. This travesty of human rights and justice needs to end. This is so shameful…..
I too am Canadian, and saw this first from Anna's FB post. I applaud your efforts — and those of everyone who steps up and calls attention to what's gone/going so very wrong in the U.S. right now. Keep calm and carry on! You are not alone!
I visit people who are detained in my town at a private "detention center." Many lose their lives long before they get to the borders. The means and methods they take are horrifying. I feel an expanded heart from the work I do. We can do a lot by visiting people who are detained, writing them letters, showing them we care.
Our country is traveling down a very dangerous road, especially with the roundups that are ongoing. These are perilous times and those who speak out against it and demonstrate their outrage peacefully are the true patriots.