As a coalition of progressive organizations and individuals working to achieve the full political, social, and economic equality of all women across NC, we can not turn away from the urgent need for all people of conscience to speak out in the face of this humanitarian crisis happening at our borders. We know that supporting women supports families, and we know that parents will often take risks to make sure their children have the opportunities they do not. We will not condone punishing parents, and by extension punishing their children, for taking the risk of improving their families’ lives.
Wednesday, June 20th marked world Refugee day but for many, it was less than celebratory. On a day designated by the United Nations to commemorate the resilience and courage of refugees and their contributions to society, we were all inundated with images and sounds of traumatized women and children separated and detained as the result of a dangerous and unnecessary zero-tolerance immigration strategy. Whether women are fleeing domestic, sexual or gang violence; escaping desperate poverty brought on by aggressive free trade policies and unregulated capitalism, or searching for a better life for their families, these are not criminal acts. We condemn the cruel and inhumane policies and practices that are separating desperate families at the border and upending people’s lives.
We encourage everyone to call/write their Congressional reps on the issue and write letters-to-the-editor to push back on ANY racism and xenophobia they come across in the news. This is not the time to stay silent.