Protect the Safe Spaces
Contributed by Nancy Racek
How did the country get here, where it is okay for ICE troops to storm hospitals, churches and schools in their hunt for immigrants? Nazi Germany anyone? I don’t want to accept that’s what the country has been reduced to. But it has!
Picture yourself in one of these institutions when a raid happens. Imagine how terrifying it would be to witness troops storming in, marching through hospital wards where the sickest of the sick are trying to heal. Envision the utter shock and disbelief of worshipers as troops march through the pews and down the aisles! And the kids! Terrified and screaming as ICE troops barge through the doors. There’s a lifelong trauma in the making. As if the threat of a mass shooting isn’t already a part of their everyday lives.
Historically these institutions, by their implicit nature, have generally been safe places. Those insides weren’t worried about being under siege. For the well-being of our country and all of our citizens these places have to remain sanctuaries. After all, the role of government is to protect its people not put them in harm’s way or take away feelings of security!
To paraphrase Martin Niemöller, a Lutheran pastor: First, they came for immigrants, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t an immigrant! Then they came for the LGBTQ+ community and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Then they came for people of color, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a person of color!
THEN THEY CAME FOR ME!