Californians form a heart to urge Governor Newsom to #FreeThemAll. AFSC
Working to #FreeThemAll – and oppose new jail funding
In April, AFSC staff and local Quakers joined with other faith leaders to create a human formation of a heart as a message of solidarity and prayer for those whose lives are at risk in detention centers and prisons. The heart formation is a response to the human heart that was formed on the yard by people detained in Mesa Verde Immigration detention center before joining others in a hunger strike protest. Also, John Lindsay-Poland of AFSC is quoted opposing a jail money grab by the Alameda County Sheriff. Check out AFSC’s new resource: “Ten Arguments Against New Jail Funding.”
67 Sueños, Oakland
Students create masks to counter anti-Asian racism
Youth involved with 67 Sueños held critical dialogues on anti-Asian racism in the wake of COVID-19 and were challenged to express their thoughts and reactions by decorating face masks. Some of the messages on the masks included “Wash your hands and don’t be racist,” and “Oakland – No Fear,” both direct responses to the xenophobic, fear-based news cycles that are still being perpetuated. Earlier, Beto Ortiz-Silva of AFSC wrote this blog on the challenges and rewards of writing grants for non-profits.
Project Voice Immigrant Rights Program, Oregon-Washington
Distributing masks to essential workers
Pedro Sosa reports that Quakers and other people of faith involved in Rapid Response teams have come together to make more than 700 masks that that are being distributed to essential workers, campesinxs and day laborers. AFSC is organizing a caravan on May 15 along with Mano a Mano and Latinos Unidos Siempre to bring masks, food and popular education materials to 500 workers at Monrovia Nursery in Dayton. Pedro’s work on behalf of immigrants is recognized in these videos by community partners and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.
People of the Land Program, Albuquerque
Terrific Turnip Tasting is a Timely Treat
Building on the success of last year’s Great Carrot Crunch, this spring AFSC in New Mexico introduced Terrific Turnip Tasting – and then had to quickly pivot as the pandemic closed schools. With tremendous help from Albuquerque Friends, AFSC was able to distribute 2,500 locally-grown, organic turnips to hundreds of families. Read more from staffers Sayrah Namaste and Angelina Lopez-Brody. Meanwhile, AFSC’s Farm to Foodbank effort is receiving national attention.
LA Freedom School Natural Medicine workshop with Jas Wade
Roots for Peace Program, Los Angeles
Donations requested for Los Angeles Undocu Worker Fund
From the Roots for Peace newsletter for May: “Amid this pandemic, we’ve prioritized supporting each other, our youth, and our most under-resourced community members: our undocumented families. We invite you to contribute to our Undocu Worker Fund to provide direct assistance to families who have lost wages and need our support.” The newsletter includes updates on LA’s first virtual Freedom School and upcoming events.
Minerva Mendoza wraps up PVI's virtual rally on May 1, 2020. (Photo: Eduardo Stanley)
Pan Valley Institute (PVI), Fresno
PVI focuses on immigrant workers’ contributions and protection
Bringing front and center the economic contribution of immigrant workers while advocating for their protection amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been the main focus of PVI’s work for most of the month of April into early May. At the same time, PVI launched the ArteVism Fellowship Program with four Latinx-indigenous young women. Read more highlights from PVI’s work here.
US-Mexico Border Program, San Diego
First COVID-19 related death at Otay Mesa Detention Center
In response to the first COVID-19 related death of a detained person at the CoreCivic-operated Otay Mesa Detention Center in California, immigrant rights advocates issued this press release. “We hold ICE and CoreCivic responsible for this preventable death,” writes Pedro Rios of AFSC. “The only reasonable and humane response at this moment is for everyone detained to be released.” Earlier, Pedro was quoted about delivering masks to Otay Mesa. In this video, Vanessa Ceceña of AFSC describes AFSC’s work to stop the militarization of border communities and uphold human rights.
Immigrant Rights Program, Denver
Coloradoans share action steps to #FreeThemAll
In this bilingual video, AFSC staff and members of Coloradoans For Immigrant Rights (CFIR) share a number of action steps we can all take to free people from immigrant detention centers, including creating personalized videos to our members of Congress. Jordan Garcia of AFSC acknowledges we can feel overwhelmed but suggests we “sit with that feeling of anger and impotence and then focus on what’s in your circle to do. Do that. It’s our duty to do what’s ours to do and that’s all.” Stay up to date with AFSC and CFIR on Facebook.
photo: AFSC San Diego
Economic Activism Program, Oakland
Exposing who profits from the militarization of the US/Mexico border
In this article in Yes Magazine, Noam Perry and Tori Bateman of AFSC write that “the same military–industrial complex that for decades benefited from foreign wars is now benefiting from border militarization and the horrific treatment of migrants. These companies provide a lot more than just military services. The billions of dollars appropriated and diverted to fund Trump’s border wall have created a new border-industrial complex, in which the same weapon companies also manage the government’s IT systems, design systems of mass-surveillance, offer management and hiring services, and more.” Check out the borders section of AFSC’s Investigate website.
Arizona Program, Tucson
Mutual Aid Project benefits people at extreme risk
AFSC’s ReFraming Justice Mutual Aid Project recently donated 43 boxes of gloves, over 1800 masks and nearly 2000 rolls of toilet paper to people in Arizona state prisons. Caroline Isaacs, who directs AFSC’s work in Arizona, is quoted in these articles describing the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, the potential for nearly a 100% infection rate therein, and how one county attorney is ignoring the crisis. Join Joe Watson for a Facebook Live on May 14 at 1 pm PT.
Matthew Leber (right) and Wren Minen call to #FreeThemAll
Short takes
Matthew Leber, Assistant Regional Director for AFSC’s West Region, recently organized the region’s first Quaker Engagement Call. Check out these opportunities for further engagement, and contact Matthew to get involved….Xochil Rodrigues from Los Angeles and Jason Martinez from Arizona are featured in this new blog about how AFSC staff around the world are taking care of themselves during the pandemic…. Check out this round-up of work supported by AFSC’s Pandemic Relief Fund.
Your support matters
Your gifts of time and money make a real difference. Please be in touch with any West Region program by visiting afsc.org, and support the AFSC West Region by donating today. Please share this subscription link for this newsletter with others. Thank you!