Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday to rally against the Trump administrations “zero tolerance” policy on immigration. Specifically, Trump’s newly established practice of separating families seeking asylum on Mexico-US border.
According to CNN, the organization Families Belong Together or Familias Unidas No Divididas organized the protests all across cities in the US, including Washington DC, California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas.
“We oppose the cruel, inhumane and unjustified separation of children from their families along the US border and other points of entry,” the organization says in their promotion of the rallies.
"As a doctor I am here to say that forced separation traumatizes children. It is cruel. It is inhumane. Kids do not belong in #tentcities. Kids do not belong in cages."#FamiliesBelongTogetherpic.twitter.com/m5ruYsfAqZ
— We Belong Together (@WomenBelong) June 14, 2018
Vox reports that the protests are aimed to show that many Americans do not approve of the inhumane immigration policies the government has pushed in the last few months. It is also looking to pressure on the administration and Congress to stop separating families.
The Trump administration has announced the “zero-tolerance” policy of prosecuting anyone who enters the US illegally, even if they are seeking asylum. Parents prosecuted for illegal entry are separated from their children. The parents are sent to into criminal custody under the Department of Justice, and children are not able to remain with their parents, while they’re in jail. Many of the children are sent to the Office of Refugee Resettlement and are held in facilities like a converted Walmart, which one journalist on Wednesday was allowed to tour.
If you are furious and heartbroken that our government, in our name, is ripping families apart: we take to the streets this Thursday, June 14.
Go to https://t.co/KEgCeTPFDH to find a protest near you. #FamiliesBelongTogetherpic.twitter.com/yvGS3pZfVU
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) June 13, 2018
The new policy has sparked a ton of outrage in recent weeks. According to Huffington Post, this week Democratic lawmakers and activists protest in front of the Customs and Border Protection offices in Washington DC.
Here are some of the powerful images from protests across the country:
A #FamiliesBelongTogether Photo Thread...
A protest rally front of the ICE building on 8th St in Philadelphia, 6/14/2018#PhillyStrong#TrumpStinks#Resist#Resistance#Inners#CuomoPrimeTime#maddowpic.twitter.com/2da9ZeQqdA
— Darren (@darren04) June 15, 2018
— Laura (@mybellavino) June 15, 2018
This 7-month old knows what's up & he's having none of it. How about you?? #FamiliesBelongTogether#HereToFight#NewSanctuaryCity#RESISTpic.twitter.com/iJtHLyvxSl
— Dorothee Benz (@DrBenz3) June 14, 2018
#FamiliesBelongTogether in Bklyn. We're chanting #ICE has got to go!"pic.twitter.com/iRxpYEvCqd
— Dorothee Benz (@DrBenz3) June 14, 2018
Hundreds of people are on the Roebling Bridge for the “Families Belong Together” rally. Cincinnati joins other protests across the country over a new immigration policy. The zero tolerance policy has separated hundreds of immigrant parents & children at the Southern border @WCPOpic.twitter.com/bPjYqRu3dX
— Ashley Zilka (@ashleyzilka) June 14, 2018
Families Belong Together rally and protest against the separation of migrant families at the border. #STLpic.twitter.com/Qj3GMFLNFv
— Arindam Kar (@AKarSTL) June 14, 2018
Capitol Hill just now, where hundreds - including whole families - turned out for #FamiliesBelongTogether.
“Kids do not belong in prisons,” one speaker said, “kids do not belong in cages.” pic.twitter.com/3XUgMriIiZ
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) June 14, 2018
While the impact of these protests remains to be seen, it's a guarantee that these concerned citizens won't be going away any time soon.