Esperanza

autoluminescence:

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autoluminescence:

OK, this is really not something I ever thought I’d be using my tumblr for, but here goes:

My friend Jessica’s just been arrested for being an undocumented immigrant. She was at a protest fighting for her basic rights to receive an education and for the release of Miguel Garcia, a fellow undocumented immigrant. She’s currently being held at the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, and may face deportation proceedings shortly.

This is one of those few cases where brute awareness does actually help. Well-known immigrants are much less likely to face deportation, even after their citizenship status is revealed (think Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who still happily resides in the States even after his very public announcement in the New York Times). If she is put on “hold” and deportation proceedings begin, there will be a petition launched on her behalf, and she has a much better shot at staying if there’s demonstrated support behind her.

On a more personal note… look, Jessica’s just kind of an awesome person. She’s extraordinarily intelligent, she’s passionate, she’s an activist of all stripes (she managed to bring the immigration and LGBT rights groups together on multiple occasions - no small feat), and she gets me to dance with her when I don’t know anyone else at the party. She’s an incredible asset to this country, and I really don’t want to see her go.

If you’re comfortable with it, I would be forever grateful if you might possibly watch and share her video. I’ll attach a link for her anti-deportation petition if it comes to that.

I’ll close with what she posted to her facebook directly before arrest:

“Why come out? Why do civil disobedience? Liberation can’t wait. The shadows weren’t meant for life.”

I want to help her live out of the shadows.

ETA: Jessica’s story is starting to make the rounds in mainstream newspapers. Predictably, the comments are full of shit.

Tumblr, I’ve seen you crash huge servers for a cause before. Spam the comment sections. GO DO YOUR THING.

A few more updates:

Here’s a video of the nonviolent demonstration she was at when arrested (it’s a little hard to hear, but their chants are “Education Not Deportation” and “Undocumented, Unafraid”). 

There’s a petition currently circulating for her release, but I think it’s region-specific. If a more general one comes out, I’ll post that. 

(via queerdesi)

anarchafeminist:

queerdesi:

Out of the shadows and into the streets!

On March 14 2012, Tania Chairez and Jessica Hyejin Lee, openly undocumented and unafraid mujeres, blocked traffic in an act of civil disobedience in front of ICE headquarters in Philadelphia. They risked deportation to free Miguel, another undocumented youth who has been in ICE detention for more than 8 months, separated from his wife and U.S. citizen son. 

Photo Credit: Jessica Hyejin Lee

These ladies are my new heroes. 

(via birdsonbranches)