Protesters rallied outside Sens. Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander's office on Jan. 29 to protest President Trump's travel ban.
This morning President Donald Trump announced that he hopes to eliminate DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protects young immigrants from deportation. He tweeted, "Congress, get ready to do your job — DACA!" following that up with, "We are a nation of laws. No longer will we incentivize illegal immigration." Jeff Sessions clarified in a press conference, saying "The program known as DACA ... is being rescinded." The program will end in six months, said Sessions, and he urged congress to use that time to write new legislation. "Congress should carefully and thoughtfully pursue the types of reforms that are right for the American people," he said.
Since DACA came under fire, many people have been sharing stories of how the program, in place since 2012, has helped them and their loved ones. One DACA recipient, a paramedic who worked for six days straight rescuing Hurricane Harvey victims, told Buzzfeed, "Hearing that my future in the United States is being threatened and possibly taken away was disheartening, it was disappointing. It was like getting an extra kick to the face when you’re already down.”
Many Nashvillians will be affected by this decision, too — according to WSMV about 8,300 Tennesseans are registered for DACA. Conexión Américas, the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), Mayor Megan Barry and others are urging Congress to restore DACA, and they're hoping fellow Tennesseans will do the same.
TIRRC and JUMP (Jóvenes Unidos por un Mejor Presente) have organized a march to support DACA. It begins with a rally at 4 p.m. today at Centennial Park. From there, marchers will walk down West End Ave. to Corker's and Alexander's offices at 3322 West End Ave. to "urge them to defend DACA and support the Dream Act."
Before the march, everyone is invited to Casa Azafrán to make signs — there will be free materials (and empanadas).
While both Tennessee senators have been Trump supporters in the past, Sen. Bob Corker, disappointed by Trump's response to the recent violence in Charlottesville, Va., recently said Trump "has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful." Now might be a good time to give him a call, thank him for recognizing Trump's lack of stability and ask him to #DefendDACA.
Corker's number is (202) 224-3344. Sen. Lamar Alexander's number is (202) 224-4944. More info about the march can be found here.
