“Whether we call them concentration camps, mass detention centers, or cages for children, they are a moral abomination. The real question is not what we call these mass detention sites growing all over the country, the question is: what is every government official and citizen doing to stop this evil? Our government is scapegoating, demonizing, and terrorizing immigrants. These policies echo the worst of Jewish history and the worst of American history. Jewish Americans overwhelmingly reject the hateful, anti-immigrant policies being perpetrated by the very people pretending to be offended on our behalf. We demand that Congress take immediate action to stop this ongoing campaign of cruelty towards immigrants by defunding the agencies that carry it out.”
– Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
The cruel and unjustifiable actions of ICE in our homes and along the border cannot be tolerated. JUFJ has fought alongside immigrants in DC and Maryland to protect their rights as members of our communities and as human beings, from the right to a public education and a legal defense to the basic protections of safety and shelter.
There are many ways you can take action against the barbaric cruelty of our own government. We are collecting them here for you to share. If there are more actions and events that we should list, please email sam@jufj.org. List updated August 9 at 11:00 AM.
UPDATE: In July, JUFJ and allies participated in a public action to demand that PNC Bank stop funding the private prison industry, which profits off of detentions and other cruelty inflicted by ICE. As of August 9, PNC Bank is no longer financing the private prison industry. Thanks to everyone who demanded better from PNC, and let’s keep taking action against ICE enablers.
Tisha B’Av (Sunday, August 11) Actions
Tisha B’Av: Jews Say #CloseTheCamps
Rally with JUFJ, NCJW, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, HIAS, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, T’ruah, Avodah, Uri L’tzedek, United we Dream, and more.
2:00 PM in DC
Witness and Lament Solidarity Tisha B’Av
4:00 PM in Richmond, VA
Details: facebook.com/events/678115802662869/
T’ruah, NCJW, Bend the Arc, and J Street are cosponsoring and coordinating #CloseTheCamps rallies on Tisha B’Av across the country.
Online Actions
ICE is planning to use hotels as temporary housing for immigrants it detains in the upcoming raids. Hotels must not be accomplices in this administration’s moral atrocities.
ICE detains people in the Howard County Detention Center. Tell County Executive Calvin Ball to stop collaborating with ICE and stop profiting off of their cruelty. You can email him directly, and/or your organization can sign a public letter to him from Jewish and allied organizations.
See below for a reflection and photos from the Tisha B’Av rally at the Detention Center by community member Bee Conrad, and a speech given by Friends of Latin America Chair Leslie Salgado at the action.
If you have more photos of the action, please send a link to sam@jufj.org so we can share them with our community.
Montgomery County is now the safest jurisdiction in our region for immigrants, thanks to an executive order from County Executive Marc Elrich. Say thank you to County Executive Elrich for his action to stop all collaboration between county officials and ICE.
Sign the petition from Sanctuary DMV telling Mayor Bowser and the DC Council to stand strong against ICE and to protect DC residents from raids.
Download the Mijente/NIPNLG report Three Ways DC Can Improve its “Sanctuary City” Policies to see how DC can do better and become a real Sanctuary City. Their three recommendations are simple, and you can tell Mayor Bowser and the DC Council to implement them.
Ask local elected and law enforcement officials to protect their constituents from ICE. Scripts and contact information for DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties (Maryland), and Fairfax and Arlington Counties and Alexandria City (Virginia) available below.
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action is demanding that Congress stop funding a militarized border and detention camps.
Many organizations have prepared resources to share in case of an ICE raid, including hotlines to call, rights to be aware of, and plans to respond. See the resource roundup at the link below.
Baltimore #JewsAgainstICE is taking action against ICE contractors Johns Hopkins University and PNC Bank. Follow them on Facebook for a list of actions you can take.
In-Person Events
Know Your Rights Training for Allies and Advocates
Thursday, June 27, 3:00 PM at Syphax Education Center in Arlington, VA
Community Defense Rally
Thursday, June 27, 4:30 PM at Fairfax ICE Office
Details: facebook.com/events/488821418525590/
ICE Out of Baltimore/Fuera ICE de Baltimore
Thursday, June 27, 6:00 PM at the ICE office (31 Hopkins Plaza)
Details: facebook.com/events/339215220108215/
Just Jobs and ICE response Know-Your-Rights Canvass
Sunday, June 30, 1:00 PM at U Street Metro
Details: jufj.org/jobs-pops/
Know Your Rights Training
Sunday, June 30, 2:30 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church
2700 South 19th Street, Arlington, VA
#CloseTheCamps Protests
Tuesday, July 2, 5:00 PM at Congressman Cummings’ office in Baltimore
#CloseTheCamps Protest
Tuesday, July 2, 7:00 PM at the White House
Click here to RSVP and email Eryca to attend with Bet Mishpachah
Never Again Is Now: DC Mass Mobilization
Tuesday, July 9, 9:00 AM in DC
Petition Delivery: Hotels, Not Immigration Jails!
Thursday, July 11, 2:45 PM at the Rockville Metro Station
More details: facebook.com/events/2351949035063103/
AFT Protest Rally
Friday, July 12, 12:00 PM at Customs and Border Patrol
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Lights for Liberty Events
Lights for Liberty Vigil
Friday, July 12, 5:00 PM in Annapolis, MD
Details: facebook.com/events/358170884846094/
Lights for Liberty Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, July 12, 6:00 PM at New York Ave Presbyterian Church
Lights for Liberty Vigil and Shabbat Candlelighting
Friday, July 12, 7:00 PM at Baltimore City Hall
Details: facebook.com/events/491481034925943/
Lights for Liberty Vigil
Friday, July 12, 7:00 PM at Patriot Plaza, Towson, MD
Details: facebook.com/events/373047776896225/
Demand #NoTechForICE with La ColectiVA
Tuesday, July 16, 9:00 AM
Details and RSVP: facebook.com/events/438764280279862/
#ShutDownICE with Movimiento Cosecha
Tuesday, July 16, 11:00 AM on the Mall
Details and RSVP: facebook.com/events/326521941566794/
Accompaniment Training with Sanctuary DMV
(learn to accompany migrants to ICE checkins)
Wednesday, July 17, 6:30 PM in Silver Spring
Court Support Training with Sanctuary Streets Baltimore
(learn to accompany migrants to ICE checkins)
Wednesday, July 17, 7:30 PM in Baltimore
Details: facebook.com/events/434489593946862/
Letters and Drawings for Children in Detention Camps
Sunday, July 21, 1:15 PM in DC
Supporting Immigrant Communities: Training & Fundraiser
Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 PM in Baltimore
Bystander Training with CASA and ERICA
Monday, July 29, 6:30 PM in Baltimore
Details: facebook.com/events/330422281241000/
