Never again is now

[redbird]

I just went to a protest & Tisha b'av service/vigil, outside the Boston ICE office. I wasn't sure I wanted to do this, but that doesn't matter. This is my work, in the times we live in.

Never again para nadie. (Never again, for anyone.)

I posted the above from my phone, while drinking tea in a Caffe Nero across the street from the Government Center T station. Adding:

The Boston ICE office is in the JFK Federal Building, in Government Center. Based on past experience, I left early enough to allow a margin for getting lost in Government Center, which I did. (It's a large open space surrounded by mostly unlabeled buildings.) When I got to the rally, adrian_turtle spotted me, so I stood with her and a few of her friends.

The event itself was lower-energy than I had expected, more quiet vigil and less noisy protest than I was expecting. I think louder would have been better, since we weren't just trying to be noticed by the government, or the media--part of the point was to let the prisoners inside know that there are people out here who support them and wish them well.

Comments

[cjsmith]

Thank you. ♥

[minoanmiss]

Thank you for going to this. How did you hear about it?

[redbird]

adrian_turtle told me about this.

[ndrosen]

Thank you.

[otter]

I agree, this is our work in these times. I'm supporting mostly behind the scenes. There are plenty of protests here to choose from though and I will get to one soon.

[redbird]

We do what we can. The organizers gave us suggested follow-up actions, one of which was to call our state legislators about two bills, and then track those bills and show up in support when they get to hearings. That. or at least the first part of it, felt like the easiest of the suggestions. The others were to donate money to help people make bond and get out of the ICE jails; accompany people to hearings; and invite a refugee to stay in your home. The fliers they handed out included contact information for those three, I think assuming we can find our legislators' phone numbers (or, here in 2019, already have them in our phones).

[otter]

Over the past 25 years, I have housed refugees in my home, accompanied someone to a hearing, and donated money to bond funds, and lawyer groups helping folks. I don't do all the things as often as I want to, but I do them as often as I can. I make phone calls and send emails when I have the energy.

[redbird]

I am impressed; that's a lot more than I've done.

[adrian_turtle]

The event itself was lower-energy than I had expected, more quiet vigil and less noisy protest than I was expecting.

I was also expecting something more energetic. Part of the purpose of a good protest is to rouse the base, to preach to the choir, to send people home feeling energetic and focused on the Work...some people find that contrary to mood of Tisha b'Av. They want to be contemplative and mournful. (And they've been fasting for 20 hours.)
1-2-3-4
What the hell are we fighting for?

I think louder would have been better, since we weren't just trying to be noticed by the government, or the media--part of the point was to let the prisoners inside know that there are people out here who support them and wish them well.

I didn't think there were any prisoners in that building, just offices and courtrooms. I know they arrest (detain? kidnap?) people who come in for hearings or to present required paperwork, but I thought they took them to South Bay. I didn't expect them to be there on a Sunday evening. I didn't realize we were probably protesting in front of an empty building until this afternoon.
5-4-3-2
Who the hell are we talking to?

[cynthia1960]

Messing with La Migra is a good thing.

[drwex]

I'm glad you went. I wanted to go, but family stuff.