We cannot afford to comply in advance!
/All eyes on Los Angeles! We share your grief and outrage in the wake of the ICE raids and kidnapping of your neighbors. Our solidarity with and gratitude toward the people of Los Angeles! By standing up for your communities you are also standing up for all of ours!
The kidnapping of our neighbors and community members endangers our communities . It creates cultures of terror and violence. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is less than 20 years old, part of the Department of Homeland Security which is also younger than C2C. We remember a time before these violent institutions, and we hold our vision of a time when they no longer exist.
The deployment of the national guard against the wishes of Governor Newsom for the first time since the Civil Rights protests is a red flag for totalitarian rule. No ‘exceptional security situation’ excuses the use of the world’s most powerful military against our own communities. If not challenged now, ICE will continue to seize power and wield violence against families, immigrants and citizens alike.
This is a test to see what the people of Los Angeles will tolerate. The people of Los Angeles see the clear signs of authoritarianism and are rising to the challenge. We at C2C see it and we will not allow this violence to grow unchecked and unchallenged.
The display of facism is also growing here in our own communities, as our local ICE facilities test the residents of Skagit, Whatcom, and Spokane to see what we will silently tolerate. Farmworker leaders like Lelo are being persecuted for protecting other workers. Families unlawfully held in detention centers outside of due process, raids on our roads and workplaces, these actions are connected to what is happening to Los Angelinas.
Where are our local elected officials? Where are our state and county officials with the power to take action to protect the communities they serve?
We are responsible for denouncing and opposing the rise of totalitarian governments- and each of us have opportunities to take action. Our actions now are critical as our rights are being erased. Join us in protecting and strengthening our communities for everyone:
Become a Solidarity Member of Community to Community, where you can contribute your time, skills, and resources to advancing food justice and building a solidarity economy.
Keep an eye on our socials and other channels to follow the case of Alfredo ‘Lelo’ Juarez Zeferino, farmworker organizer detained by ICE in late March who remains in custody. Join your voice with ours in demanding his release. We will continue to share opportunities to act in solidarity as his case continues.
No one is free until we are ALL free!