LAFAYETTE: A group of grandmothers known as “Grannies Respond” is on a more than 2,000 mile journey Texas to protest the Trump Administrations “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy.
The grandmothers say they were moved to action by seeing the migrant separated from their families on the Mexican border.
"We’re on our way to McAllen on the Texas border to go protest the horribly, terribly disturbing policies of the Trump Administration separating children from families, and detaining families in an inhumane condition,” said Maine Interfaith Chaplain and Expressive Therapist Kali Bird Isis.
The group kicked off their journey at a rally in Manhattan.
They stopped in Reading and Pittsburgh, PA; Louisville, Kentucky; Montgomery, Alabama, New Orleans and more to hold vigils and rallies.
They selected their stops in cities where they believe they have a chance at persuading voters to elect candidates who will work to reverse the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.
"We selected districts where we think we can felt we can make a difference and can change hearts and minds. This is about raising awareness and engaging the public in a conversation and hopefully impact policies,” explained Chester County, Pennsylvania grandmother Roya Salehi.
One grandmother from Washington D.C. said enough was enough when she heard about the horrific stories of migrant babies being separated from their mothers at detention centers.
"This is not new in America, there’s many people from my community who are the descendants of children who were separated from their families forever. From the country they were taken from, from the auction block they were sold on,” said Washington D.C. grandmother Rafiah Jones.
For Jones, the separation on the border hit on a personal level, and she’s concerned history may repeat itself.
"Here we are at the beginning. This is just the little head of this showing up. Using children for our own political and economic gain. And, so now I’m older and I’m saying no,” said Jones.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DEFENDED IT’S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY BY ARGUING THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN SOUTHWEST BORDER ARRESTS.
The Trump administration has defended it’s zero tolerance policy by arguing that there has been an increase in southwest border arrests.
White House officials also say the policy was around during the Bush and Obama administrations.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE POLICY ISN’T NEW–IT WAS AROUND DURING BUSH AND OBAMA’S PRESIDENCY.
"We’re stopping in Houston, and then we’re heading to the Dilley Detention Center and then we’ll be in McAllen for 24 hours of vigils and direct action,” explained Kali Bird Isis.
The Grannies hope to make a big impact in McAllen because they say if grannies can prove able to affect change, than so can younger generations.
A group of grandmothers known as “Grannies Respond” is on a more than 2,000 mile journey Texas to protest the Trump Administrations “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy.
The grandmothers say they were moved to action by seeing the migrant separated from their families on the Mexican border.
"We’re on our way to McAllen on the Texas border to go protest the horribly, terribly disturbing policies of the Trump Administration separating children from families, and detaining families in an inhumane condition,” said Maine Interfaith Chaplain and Expressive Therapist Kali Bird Isis.
The group kicked off their journey at a rally in Manhattan.
They stopped in Reading and Pittsburgh, PA; Louisville, Kentucky; Montgomery, Alabama, New Orleans and more to hold vigils and rallies.
They selected their stops in cities where they believe they have a chance at persuading voters to elect candidates who will work to reverse the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.
"We selected districts where we think we can felt we can make a difference and can change hearts and minds. This is about raising awareness and engaging the public in a conversation and hopefully impact policies,” explained Chester County, Pennsylvania grandmother Roya Salehi.
One grandmother from Washington D.C. said enough was enough when she heard about the horrific stories of migrant babies being separated from their mothers at detention centers.
"This is not new in America, there’s many people from my community who are the descendents of children who were separated from their families forever. From the country they were taken from, from the auction block they were sold on,” said Washington D.C. grandmother Rafiah Jones.
For Jones, the separation on the border hit on a personal level, and she’s concerned history may repeat itself.
"Here we are at the beginning. This is just the little head of this showing up. Using children for our own political and economic gain. And, so now I’m older and I’m saying no,” said Jones.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DEFENDED IT’S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY BY ARGUING THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN SOUTHWEST BORDER ARRESTS.
The Trump administration has defended it’s zero tolerance policy by arguing that there has been an increase in southwest border arrests.
White House officials also say the policy was around during the Bush and Obama administrations.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE POLICY ISN’T NEW–IT WAS AROUND DURING BUSH AND OBAMA’S PRESIDENCY.
"We’re stopping in Houston, and then we’re heading to the Dilley Detention Center and then we’ll be in McAllen for 24 hours of vigils and direct action,” explained Kali Bird Isis.
The Grannies hope to make a big impact in McAllen because they say if grannies can prove able to affect change, than so can younger generations.
