1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I was born and raised in the United States of America. My lineage runs deep with military service–a grandfather, father, and stepfather in the Army, an aunt in the Air Force. I have lived in half a dozen States. I’ve been teaching in the States for a decade now and have lived and taught abroad. I have great love and respect for my country, for its service men and women, and for the immigrant communities that are woven within the fabric of our foundation. I am a white woman, but my religious ethnicity has a long history of persecution and I cannot, will not, simply sit by as our country falls to fascism that is nothing short of the beginning of The Handmaid’s Tale.  What is happening with the ICE raids in California and all over the country is not only inhumane, it is innately unconstitutional and un-American. As I am sure you are aware, the first amendment to our constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  As such, I would like to discuss some of my grievances: 
 1 What is being done to protect people who are detained by ICE without notice, representation, or proper living situations?  2 What are you doing to stand up against an unjust government?  3 How are you going to be a part of history? What legacy will you leave behind? Will it be one of passive allowance while people are kidnapped in broad daylight, while families are torn apart, while churches and schools are raided?  In my classroom, I teach works of empathy: MAUS, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Persepolis, Kindrend, etc. How am I supposed to explain to my students that while I may teach empathy in my classrooms, they are about to enter a world which dehumanizes them simply based on where they were born or the color of their skin? On the assumptions made about them simply because of their religion or where their family is from or the language they grew up with?  The current state of our country is not only embarrassing, it is absolutely terrifying. The parallels I see between the actions of this current administration (especially regarding immigration and diversity) and the actions of other fascist governments, of how the Nazis, for example, convinced a public to ignore the execution of millions of people, is appalling.  We do not have to be doomed to repeat history. We have an opportunity to do better, to be better.  I urge you to publicly denounce these raids, to demand accountability from ICE, and to push for legislation that protects due process and human rights for all. I implore you to act—not out of political convenience, but out of moral obligation. The eyes of your constituents, and history are upon you.