Solidarity and Sanctuary Cities: An Open Letter from Mayor Curtatone

[sheshe2]

Somerville Will Stand with You



Monday, November 21, 2016

Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor of Somerville, MA

Ben Echevarria, Executive Director of The Welcome Project, Somerville, MA

In the wake of the election, our phones have been ringing off the hook. We've heard from parents who fear they will be rounded up while their young children wait for them at home. We've heard from women, Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community, and students of color fearing intensified discrimination. We've heard from people who believe equality and decency are core American values at risk. This is the heartbreaking part of the election: the sheer number of people who feel like the Trump campaign was predicated on breaking faith with one another.

Political parties win and lose. Yet this election has made people question whether our leaders desire to maintain a diverse, tolerant society. The message we jointly want to send to those whose confidence has been shaken is this: Our city-Somerville, Massachusetts-will not waver. Others, including our Governor, are also standing firm.

Somerville will stand with you regardless of your race, creed, color, sex, nationality, legal status, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. So if you are afraid, or if you feel targeted, don't go into isolation. Reach out. And if you want to help or speak up or share you skills to support others, reach out. We're putting together resources and support. We're doubling down on our advocacy. And we will need each of you and your voices to continue to move forward as a community.

President-Elect Trump has threatened to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities. Somerville has been a sanctuary city since 1987. And Somerville will remain a sanctuary city. We will not turn our back on our neighbors. Our diversity is our strength. Since we became a sanctuary city, our crime rate has dropped more than 50%. In fact, our crime rate for every type of violent crime is below the state and national averages. Our local unemployment rate is just 2.2 percent.

Read More:http://www.somervillema.gov/news/solidarity-and-sanctuary-cities-open-letter-mayor-curtatone

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This is a very moving letter. Take a moment to read the rest. Cities like Somerville and their Mayor are what makes America Great! They are about to lose 6 million in federal funding if trump follows through with his threats. Those funds are used for school lunch programs, substance abuse prevention, special education and even homeland security. Typically trump is making Americans less same in order to keep America White. They are nothing more than heartless evil bastards. May they rot in hell.

RESIST PERSIST

[smirkymonkey]

1. K&R

[sheshe2]

2. Thank you for reading, smirkymonkey.

This is what America is really about.

[smirkymonkey]

3. You're welcome!

I am proud to live in Boston and the Boston area - we fight for what is right here!

[sheshe2]

4. You said it.

I will gladly stand with Somerville.

[KingCharlemagne]

5. I fear that the phrase "sanctuary city" (or "sanctuary state") may

be inculcating a false sense of security among targeted sub-groups.

I live in Los Anglees, another of the so-called 'sanctuary cities.' What this means in practice, at least so far, is that the Los Angeles Police Department will not assist agents of ICE in carrying out immigration enforcement actions, nor will the LAPD enforce local and state laws based upon a person's immigration status.

But it does nto mean that ICE and CBP aren't operating in Los Angeles and Southern California.

If I had my 'druthers, our City Council would be ordering the LAPD to actively impede all enforcement efforts of ICE within our city limits. I have actually made this request to my city councilperson but received a ho-hum response. Fair enough. I suppose municipal politicians (with the exception of Socialist Alternative Kshama Sawant in Seattle) are so far unwilling to move resistance to the federal government to the next level.

For Los Angeles or any municipality to become a true 'sanctuary' for targeted sub-groups, ICE and CBP must be made persona non grata within the jurisdiction's borders.