State Lawmakers, Immigration Advocates to Host Rally Launching “Protect Our Immigrant Communities” Campaign
Campaign to highlight ways Massachusetts must push back against President Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric and executive orders
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition will rally alongside state lawmakers and fellow advocates to launch the “Protect Our Immigrant Communities” Campaign, stressing the steps Massachusetts must take to defend immigrants from President Trump’s harmful and hateful policies.
“Immigrants make Massachusetts stronger by filling our communities with their culture, keeping our economy running amidst a workforce shortage, and spending hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local taxes,” said Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. “Beacon Hill must pass reforms to protect immigrants who give so much to our state, and the ‘Protect Our Immigrant Communities’ campaign will advocate tirelessly to make that a reality.”
To defend immigrants from President Trump’s anti-immigrant executive orders, the “Protect Our Immigrant Communities” campaign is urging state leaders to pass the Safe Communities Act, which would prevent state and local law enforcement from doing the work of ICE agents. The campaign is also calling on the state to expand legal services for immigrants facing deportation court proceedings to ensure they have a fair day in court.
WHAT: Launch of the “Protect Our Immigrant Communities” Campaign
WHO: Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director at the MIRA Coalition
Maroni Minter, Political Director at the MIRA Coalition, program emcee
Senator James Eldridge (D-Acton)
Senator Liz Miranda (D-Boston)
Representative Manny Cruz (D-Salem)
Representative David Rogers (D-Belmont)
Dawn Sauma, Co-Executive Director, Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
Damaris Velasquez, Programs Director, Agencia ALPHA
WHEN: Wednesday, January 29, at 12 p.m.
WHERE: Massachusetts State House Front Steps