By Clair Norton
August 24, HARTFORD, Conn--Community members and activists gathered in front of Hartford’s Federal Building on a warm Friday morning to denounce a recent raid on the Zaim family home.
At 5:45 am, Immigrant Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents burst into the home of Moroccan immigrant Said Zaim-Sassi, waking his sleeping family—and those who have until now stayed quiet in the debate over US immigration policy.
Protesters gathered outside of the ICE office Friday morning at 8am. Angry and frustrated over yet another one of many raids this year on an innocent, hard working community member’s home. A picket line was immediately formed and people began chanting loudly for the office to free Said. The picket line marched for about 45 minutes and then gathered for a press conference. The first person to stand up to the microphone was a woman speaking of behalf of the Stop The Raids organization. She stated that she was standing up to fight against the injustice and inhumanity demonstrated by the ICE agents. Said, like many people, came here from Morroco in search of better opportunities and well being for his family. He is not a criminal, he is a hard worker. Instead, he had to suffer and is being detained right now. Stop The Raids also points out that the Zaim home invasion makes the ICE raids not exclusively an attack on Latino communities, but for all of the immigrants living in the United States. ICE is terrorizing a huge group of people in our country that will never be able to enjoy many of the resources US citizens have that people from other countries do not, such as better health care and education.
Stop The Raids asks the crowd: Can we accept that our government is disrupting our good living? A society built on the importance of family values tearing apart hard working families? How can we defend a law that justifies irrefutable harm? They then suggested that as a tactic we must confront and challenge the raids and also formalize and strengthen our networks.
The next person to take the microphone and deliver a very powerful and emotionally charged address was Said’s niece. She explained that her uncle came to the United States from Morroco to work hard for his family and to achieve the American dream of a better life. He was an individual contributing to society by working hard for the United States. He truly wanted to be here, despite the cruel government that seemed to be working against his people.
A spokesperson from Unidad Latina en Accion was next to take the microphone. He stated that there are millions of people in this country, just like Said. We are part of a huge movement asking for equal rights and amnesty that as living and working people, we are entitled to. Another woman from ULA stepped up to the microphone and declared that we are all one race, the human race, and nothing can change that. The next speaker was from Unite Here Local 217. She opened her address by saying “An injury to one is an injury to all†She declared that these raids are meant to instill fear in our lives. To make us feel threatened. The raids are affecting all workers. Immigrants come to the USA seeking opportunities in order to create better lives for their families. We need to join together put a stop to these raids every where they are happening. She also points out: Said’s children are US citizens who are now parentless…who will take care of them?
The next person to speak was Said’s brother, Jason. He spoke on behalf of all of Said’s family, saying that they are reaching out and knocking on everyone’s door. It is causing them huge amounts of stress, but they are trying to get as much help as possible. The family is shocked and traumatized, but managing to pull together to do all they can for justice for Said.
The next person to speak was Leslie, on behalf of the feminist anti-war organization: Code Pink. Leslie stated that the government is trying to make us afraid of everyone. We are all immigrants or family of immigrants. The government is criminalizing people who have done no wrong. They just want a better situation for their families and to take advantaged of the vast resources the US has to offer.
A woman from Unidad Latino en Accion then offered a closing statement that the struggle doesn’t end here, it is just the beginning. She encouraged all of the people there to get involved and to keep demanding justice for those who have been deported, and their families. Together as a movement, we can stop the raids!
But is anyone letting this raid deter them? No. People still want to stay in the United States despite being attacked and forced out by our government. This movement shows huge dedication to just how serious people are about achieving citizenship in the United States, despite how challenging our government makes it.
