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By:
HARRISON MAINA | |||||||||
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Jan,20-2017 21:51:52
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(Updated January 19) LOWELL, Mass.,__A growing group of Latino, Cambodian and other minority communities in Lowell are calling on African immigrants in the city to come out of the shadows and help lobby lawmakers to declare Lowell a Sanctuary City, where immigrants can live and work freely without the fear of arrest by police for deportations. To make steps towards making the dream come true, the group, dubbed "Solidarity Lowell" has planned an information and strategy meeting this Thursday January 19 at the St. Patrick's Large Church Hall on 282 Suffolk Street from 7.15- 9.15pm. During the meeting, immigrants will be educated on how to recognize and exercise their rights in case of an immigration raid, and where to seek for legal and other help necessary. Sponsored by the Merrimack Valley project, the event will also feature knowledgeable officials who will explain to the clergy, lay people and community activists on everything they need to know regarding the process of deportation raids and proceedings so that they may educate their followers who may need help. The group also plans to introduce a bill for consideration and eventual voting at Lowell City seeking to make Lowell a sanctuary city. "There is a lot of fear among many undocumented immigrants in Lowell as to their future when the new president takes office in a few days. Donald Trump has made some pronouncements that could lead to many law abiding but undocumented immigrants from many countries of the world being arrested or deported for unfair reasons," said Sue J. Kim, Professor of English and Co-Director, Center for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Lowell during an interview with Ajabu Africa News soon after attending the first strategy meeting last week in Lowell. Kim, a Korean- American whose parents emigrated from Korea many years ago Korea added that a Sanctuary or Trust city is a city where local law enforcement is not allowed to be used to enforce federal immigration policy. She added that in Massachusetts, there are several Sanctuary cities including the City of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Lawrence and Springfield, but due to the uncertainty of how the new president elect Donald Trump will enforce immigration law, there is a need to urge Lawmakers in Lowell to provide some protections for law abiding but undocumented immigrants. She added that even though the Governor of Massachusetts said recently that the State Troopers will not be enforcing any new immigration laws that may come with the new regime, that pronouncement was not well documented and therefore may not be sufficient to protect unsuspecting immigrants. "We are urging the thousands of African immigrants living and working in Lowell to come out and support our efforts to make Lowell a Sanctuary City. We need support from everyone to make this bill we are planning to introduce come to fruition," said Carlos Gabriel, a Latino Community activist co chairing the group with Sue Kim. "The more of us immigrants here come out to be seen as supporting this initiative the more the lawmakers will take it seriously and the more the pressure on them to act on it. This will benefit not just the Latinos and Cambodians, but also the African immigrants and their children I this city," he added. During the strategy meeting last week, over a dozen community activists gathered to discuss the issue heard that in a Sanctuary city, the police are not allowed to arrest anyone on their immigration records unless the person has been convicted of serious criminal offence. Over 7,000 immigrants from Africa, mostly from Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone are estimated to me living in the gateway city of Lowell where many other immigrants have found refuge over the centuries, helping create the initial spark that propelled Lowell to become the home of the American Industrial revolution due to the emergence many textile mills and canals dotting the entire city. "We are looking forward to seeing our African brothers and sisters in this city get involved. And show up for the meeting," stressed Carlos. As a professor of English at UMASS Lowell, Kim said that she loves to intract with diverse cultures where she has realized that immigrants have a lot to offer to any community advancement in USA. She revealed that her favorite post colonial literature book she likes to use most with her students is the "Devil on the Cross", written by world renowned Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o. "I love Ngugi wa Thiong'o. He is such a terrific writer," Kim told Ajabu Africa News. Thursday's meeting will start promptly at 7.15pm. Venue: the St. Patrick’s Large Church Hall on 282 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA. | |||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICA NEWS
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