After watching the inhumane acts of ICE in Minneapolis, including shootings of American citizens, unlawful entry into people’s homes, separation of families and using children as bait, I was so proud of how Howard County responded last week to the threat of ICE in our own community.
Hundreds of residents, community organizations and nonprofits showed up in support of CB 16, emergency legislation filed by County Executive Calvin Ball to prohibit the permitting of ICE detention centers in private buildings – which passed the County Council unanimously – and CB 17, emergency legislation filed by councilwoman Liz Walsh to require guidance for county workers on ICE action at Howard County facilities and properties, which passed 4-1. We are thankful to our County Executive and all our Council members.
We showed up for each other. We showed up for our neighbors because we value humanity and dignity. We value equity and inclusion. And, we value ALL of our residents.
We are particularly proud of several of our grantees including Luminus, PATH, CASA and Columbia Community Care, along with hundreds of other residents who stood in solidarity with our immigrant community with care and compassion. They showed up despite concerns for their safety and wellbeing. They showed up because they are courageous and impactful.
We know that Black, Brown, Asian and Native communities have long faced government-sanctioned terror without accountability, and continue to be targeted and attacked today. Let us continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with each other and fight this inhumanity. Let us continue to provide care and compassion, deliver food and other necessities and alerts and warnings to our immigrant neighbors. Let us continue to Know Our Rights and practice Stand by Guardianship if necessary.
To our friends in Minneapolis: our hearts go out to you. Please know you continue to inspire us and the rest of the world, both with your widespread peaceful protests and the small acts of neighborly kindness.
At the Horizon Foundation, we seek to be an anti-racist organization. This means both calling out injustice when we see it and advocating for policy change to dismantle structural racism to achieve better health for everyone.
Last week, we saw humanity, solidarity and equity in action. Thank you, Howard County. Let’s keep it up.
