Shame, shame, shame

Dear Leading Ladies,

Shame, shame, shame, the crowd of hundreds chants in response to the stories of inhumane treatment visited on immigrants by ICE, in our own neighborhoods and at the detention center in Burlington.

For the first time, we stood among these people at a “standout” organized by Bearing Witness. Created by Laurie and Jared Berezin, the events occur every Wednesday from 11 am to 1 pm on the grass across the street from the detention center. Our gathering was the 33rd since Bearing Witness’s inception.

Credit: Bearing Witness @ ICE

The venue, a three-minute walk from Nordstrom’s and Macy’s, both symbols of prosperity and privilege, was a lesson in contrasts. Some old-time protest music performed by two men in true Pete Seeger style rallied the group together before several speakers took turns at the mics. The first speaker described the realities of life in the detention center for those brought there under duress and without legal cause. There are no beds or mattresses. One toilet serves many people and offers no privacy. A camera records the most personal of personal needs. Food is scarce, as is medical care. Access to phones to let one’s family know one’s whereabouts and situations is scarcely available. There are no windows and the lights are on 24/7.

While we stood in the freezing cold, our feet planted in the first snow of the season, we were alternately inspired and horrified by all we heard. The sight of so many people coming out and holding signs on this frigid day was encouraging. One speaker reinforced our belief that showing up matters. It encourages others to get involved and demonstrates to those perpetrating unfair and illegal measures that protest is real and growing. People are watching and want the officials in charge held accountable. 

We heard the heart-breaking recent story of Anna, a freshman at Babson College, who boarded a plane to Texas to surprise her parents for Thanksgiving. She was removed from the plane and told there was a problem with her ticket. Before she knew it, she was detained in Burlington and then sent back to Honduras, where she has not lived since she was seven. There was no due process. A young girl’s hard work and dreams were smashed. Rep. Seth Moulton, who visited the ICE facility earlier this week, criticized the conditions forcefully. Yet, the standout speaker and the crowd were displeased to hear him refer to what happened to Anna as bad luck. This is not bad luck. It was coordinated cruel treatment by an illegal and unconstitutional system.

At least Rep. Moulton went to visit. Too many legislators have not bothered, we were told.

Wednesday’s standout coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Jared Berezin reminded us that the boycott was about more than Black people being able to sit at the front of the metropolitan buses. The boycott was about respect and access and equal treatment. Because so many people stood up and participated in this non-violent, non-cooperation with practices that were wrong, the boycott lasted more than a year and was successful.

We have the opportunity today, Berezin emphasized, to enlist the same non-violent methods to not cooperate with what is being done by ICE and Homeland Security. He decried violent measures and spoke of the need to keep showing up, whether it is in Burlington every Wednesday or in other ways such as helping immigrant families in need of food, housing, clothing, or access to legal advice.

Boycotting Citizens Bank is a new initiative of Bearing Witness. They are urging people to stop doing business with Citizens until the bank ends its millions of dollars in financial support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers due to the inhumane conditions and medical neglect at these facilities. Bearing Witness is looking for people willing to protest with a banner at bank branches. They have a banner design and can help finance the production of banners but are also looking for financial support to have them printed. For more information about joining this effort, go to boycottcitizens.org.

To attend a standout at the Burlington ICE facility, the address is 1000 District Avenue. The exit is the same as for the Burlington Mall. Park wherever it is not marked private. Signs are available to hold for the morning. If you wish to bring your own, please make sure the theme is immigration related. People start gathering a little before 11 am every Wednesday. After the speeches, portions of relevant constitutional amendments are read. Then people stand by the side of the road displaying their signs and walk together down the street with their signs. Some people leave before the walk. To learn more about Bearing Witness, join their email list here and read their Substack for weekly updates.

Hope to see you some Wednesday soon. Pack a hot drink and some hope.

Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team
Leadingladiesvote.org
ladies@leadingladiesvote.org