To the editor:
We are so proud of our community. Friday’s Lights for Liberty protest was powerful and hopeful. Speakers, from immigrant refugee activists to Revolution Evolution members Anna McGuiness and Gabby Oja shared their hearts with us, as did vocalist Marybeth Hallinan and Texan Beto O’Rourke. Over 300 of you came to listen, learn and protest family separation and the trauma of children in cages. As we acknowledged our collective will to close the camps, we now read the summary of the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform’s findings on the documents relating to the separation policy. The findings, termed “woefully incomplete,” are worse than anticipated.
The Trump Administration’s child separations were more harmful, traumatic and chaotic than previously known. The Trump Administration has not been candid with the American people about its purpose in separating children. The nightmare continues as hundreds of separations have taken place since the alleged end of the separation policy in June 2018.
We must continue the push to end these camps, for children and for adults. Please ask Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Representative Annie Kuster to resist budget increases based on false premises that don’t help children (camps, family separation, private-profit foster care that bonds children with substitute caretakers, using unaccompanied minors to uncover and deport parents). We must, instead, step up funding to speed and improve the asylum adjudication process and reunify families. To join the growing network of activists, contact any member of the ad hoc committee or join the new Facebook group “Peterborough Lights for Liberty COALITION.”
Sincerely,
Peterborough Lights of Liberty Adhoc Committee
Kathy Anderson
Marie Cassady
Kate Coon
Jane Eckert
Chris Halvorson Sheldon
Karen Hatcher
Sarah Steinberg Heller
Ann Latham
Mary Vallier-Kaplan
Julie Zimmer