Communities Come Together for Immigrant Rights

Trainings to educate and empower Connecticut residents on their rights in the event of an ICE raid have been taking place across the state organizated by local immigrant rights groups including Hartford Departation Defense, Unidad Latina en Accion, Semilla Collective, IRIS, and statewide groups like the ACLU and Indivisible, legal aid lawyers and unions like the teachers union.

Connecticut law under the Trust Act prohibits state workers from cooperating with ICE, although they cannot obstruct actions by ICE. Cities like New Haven also have laws that prohibit public workers from sharing information with ICE. When hate fliers saying “Get Out” appeared in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, city officials responded by clearing them all out. Hate crimes can be reported to the Attorney General's office.

In notes from an ACLU Know Your Rights zoom training last week Shoreline Indivible emphasided “This will be a long haul. As the Rev Dr Martin Luther King said, “A person dies when he/she refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man/woman dies wen he/she refuses to stand up for justice. A man/woman dies when he/she refuses to take a tand for that which is true.”

Actions to support immigrants democratic rights reviewed at the training included accompanying immigrant neighbors to court appointnemts and registering for rapid response if help is needed on an immediate basis. Resrouces are available at the ACLU website and at the City of New Haven website.

 

A flier being circulated in English and Spanish is aimed at helping prepare for ssfety if ICE comes to the door: