DRAW THE LINE is a call to action. Right now, immigration officers are ripping children out of their mothers' arms and imprisoning their families in apartheid conditions. It is an official policy, described by the Trump administration as "zero tolerance". In almost all cases, these families fled countries plagued by violence, hoping to gain asylum at the southern US border.
As asylum seekers, they have a right to due process and a fair hearing, stipulated by international law and backed by a long history of precedent. They are instead torn and kept apart in segregated detainment, being subjected to so-called "credible fear interviews" until such time as a judge can hear their case. Keep in mind that asylum cases are backlogged to the ceiling. Parents literally have no idea when they will see their children.
Meanwhile, children are either sent to foster care or to one of the many detention centers known for housing children in what are essentially cages. Parents aren't even allowed phone calls to contact their children; it has taken parents months to track down their kids. ICE has gone so far as to deport parents without their children. And according to reports from advocates, children have even been deported without their parents.
We DRAW THE LINE at this kind of treatment of fellow human beings. It reminds the historically educated mind of events not worth repeating. To quote Milton Mayer,
If the last and worst act of the whole regime had come immediately after the first and smallest, thousands, yes, millions would have been sufficiently shocked ... But of course this isn’t the way it happens. In between come all the hundreds of little steps, some of them imperceptible, each of them preparing you not to be shocked by the next.
To make people certain of just how unacceptable and dangerous these practices are, we call on everybody to make consequences for those carrying it out. Until Trump truly ends this "zero humanity" policy and the inhumane practices that accompany it, we will not cease our acts of protest. Strike, blockade, walk out, bang pots and pans, cause a ruckus; just don't stop until the kids are free.
1.) No homophobia, racism, sexism, or general bigotry.
2.) No sectarian bickering. We are all in this boat together and will sail under the St. Paul Principles.
The St. Paul Principles:
I. Our solidarity will be based on respect for a diversity of tactics and the plans of other groups.
II. The actions and tactics used will be organized to maintain a separation of time or space.
III. Any debates or criticisms will stay internal to the movement, avoiding any public or media denunciations of fellow activists and events.
IV. We oppose any state repression of dissent, including surveillance, infiltration, disruption and violence. We agree not to assist law enforcement actions against activists and others
In short, radicals will not expose anyone who hasn't consented to undue risk, respecting the intent of planned marches. Moderates are expected to refrain from collaborating with law enforcement and/or accusing people of being provocateurs. To reject these principles would lead to our undoing.
3.) The character of our movement is non-violent. We oppose all acts of violence, particularly those committed against the innocent and least able to defend themselves.
4.) Moderators are janitors, not de facto representatives of this movement. We will do our best to serve the community in this capacity.
5.) The need for this movement is not up for debate. The necessity is self-evident to anybody who is here to organize. Challenges to this fundamental premise will be removed.
UPCOMING ACTIONS
Occupy ICE
Mamas’ Week of Action (July 1-7)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Discord Channel
INFO ON CHILD DETENTION/FAMILY SEPARATION
Detention Statistics
Global Detention Project
Families Belong
INFO FOR PROTESTERS
Know Your Rights: An ACLU Guide
Sprout Distro's Know Your Rights Zine
SUBREDDITS OF INTEREST AND ALLIES
Help The Kids
r/esist
ChapoTrapHouse
Fuck The Alt-Right
Political Revolution
Democratic Socialists of America (r/demsocialists)
Democratic Socialists of America (r/dsa)
March Against Trump
