Third Act statement on attacks on immigrants

Third Act is the nation’s largest organization of progressive elders. Our expertise centers on safeguarding our climate and democracy, but we speak out on other issues when conscience demands—and the new administration’s relentless attacks on immigrants is one of those occasions.

 

Some of us have firsthand memories of World War II’s concentration camps, and the Japanese internment camps in this country; none of us are more than a generation removed from that history. It sends shivers down our spines to hear the president order the construction of a 30,000 bed prison in Guantanamo, and to see endless raids by state agents on the homes of immigrants. It is long past time for leaders in Washington to hammer out a humane immigration policy that recognizes how much of America’s strength comes from its diversity.

It also chills us to see the president’s declaration that schools must now teach only ‘patriotic education’ or lose funding. The curriculum he outlines insists that America’s history is only noble. Some of it—helping liberate those German camps—surely is; some—building those camps for Japanese-Americans—surely isn’t. We believe we need to understand all our history, and as long as we’re alive we’ll share what we know with the next generations. 

Third Actors will continue to stand up for oppressed families and communities, even if these families and communities are not their own. It’s the right thing to do. Below, you can find some organizations devoted to immigrant rights and safety; we encourage you to support them.