Ruling Over Oppressors
When he wrote his letters from the jail in Birmingham more than 50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. expressed his reasons for protest, his disappointment with white moderates and his vision for a brighter tomorrow. In the wake of the past two months, whether immigration policies or Supreme Court justices; hope for the future appears to be a waning commodity in the foreign national community. Today, blessed with the good fortune to escape oppression and violence in their homelands, many of those who have risked life limb and in some cases children are happy just for the opportunity to be in a place that has been a symbol of freedom for much of their lives.
As we quickly approach November, congressional primaries which could see real upset of the political dynamics in the US Congress, appear as a beacon on the hill for those who are searching for a light at the end of the dark political tunnel that has become US Immigration policies. “We should be heartened by the New York primary win of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old community organizer from the Bronx who beat establishment-Democratic powerhouse Rep. Joseph Crowley. Her win is a reminder that in the face of Trumpism, and of establishment parties that are slow to respond to the needs of the marginalized, we will make our presence known.” [1](Attiah, 2018) This small victory shows a small but bright breakthrough in the wall being built by the current administration designed to shut out this community.
Just this past weekend thousands gathered across the country to protest the administration’s policies on immigration demanding that “Families Belong Together”. “Ocasio-Cortez, who ousted 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley during Tuesday’s primary election, has called for the abolition of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She also visited Tornillo, Texas, to protest the separations of families at the border. Singer John Legend urges L.A. crowd to resist the temptation to disengage and “do something” [he also] urged protesters to take action before performing his new song “Preach.” In Washington DC Holly Johnson 46, and her twin 8-year-olds Dexter and Gretchen [marched]. Johnson told CNN she is “horrified” about what is happening and believes the government doesn’t have a plan to reunify the separated children with the parents.” [2](Wagner et al., 2018) The fight to keep citizens and politicians to remain engaged in resistance against what are widely seen as unfair and racist practices continues.
Those who are at the center of this controversy, foreign nationals in the hope of a better life for themselves and their families are faced with the melancholy existence of arriving to the beacon only to find a light that could leave serious burns. “Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren visited a central processing center for immigrants in McAllen, Texas. Warren reported to CNN many of those she spoke to “were “frightened” [but] that America is their “last hope,””. [3] (Stapleton & Kelley, 2018) They appear to be crying on the shoulder of their captors for the gratitude of a day with less strife than the day before.
As each day passes this appears to be ramping up to a fight of biblical proportions. “Isaiah 14:2 They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors. …. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. … the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites.” [4] (Bible Hub, 2017) It appears we will soon learn who is on the right hand side of the law of the land.
[1] Attiah, Karen, (June 29th, 2018) Commentary: I no longer have hope in white America https://trib.in/2tXJ95S
[2] Wagner, M., Rocha, V. & Riles, B. (June 30th, 2018) Protesters march against Trump’s immigration policy https://cnn.it/2KycpaA
[3] Stapleton, AnneClaire & Kelley, Caroline (June 24th, 2018) Detained immigrants to Sen. Warren: “America is our last hope” https://cnn.it/2KEkWcb
[4] Bible Hub, 2017 http://biblehub.com/isaiah/14-2.htm
