OPINION: ICE off our streets! Medford residents raise their voices

The following was submitted by Jennifer Yanco and Barry Ingber.

More than 100 people gathered in Medford Square on Sunday afternoon to denounce the presence of ICE in our communities and to make it clear that they are not welcome here.

As Rabbi Leah Nussbaum put it, “ICE does not belong in Medford nor in our country.”

Judging from the response of passing drivers, this is a widely held view. The standout was a grassroots response to the increasingly violent presence of ICE and in particular to the murder by an ICE agent of US citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

“We’re out here to bring more awareness and to stand up for what’s right,” said Medford City Councilor Liz Mullane. “It’s horrifying what happened to Renee Good and what is happening in our country today.“

Jessica Parks, School Committee member, expressed equal shock at the killing of Renee Good: “As a mother, it took my breath away, to see another mother killed as she drove home from dropping her child off at school. It’s scary, but it strengthens my resolve. I want to show Simon [my son] that it’s important to stand up.”

Simon, Parks’ 10-year-old son, also had a thing to say about why he was there: “ICE is mean. They’re hurting innocent people.”

Sue Edelman of Mystic Mashup Indivisible agreed: “Things are getting out of control. It’s not only about Renee, but also the kidnapping of our neighbors, and kids who are afraid to go to school.”

“Every human deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said local business owner Michael Denton, “but the government is acting in a way that does not reflect the will of the people or the spirit of the American project.”

People emphasized the importance of standing up for their values and doing so in community with others.

Rabbi Leah Nussbaum was clear: “As a Jewish leader and rabbi, I believe that it is important that each person stands up to protect our neighbors. [Coming out here] tells our community that we care about immigrant justice, we care about everybody, and it builds community.”

“I’ve been going to protests since high school,” said Mika Clark, “and I feel like it’s our duty to speak up when we see stuff that goes against the core of what America stands for.”

Building and finding strength in community was a key reason people came out to voice their objections to ICE.

Theresa Racicot was there, she said, “Because it's important to take action and be in community with others. Standing out in Medford Square, for everyone walking, cycling, and driving by shows our fellow neighbors that if they are feeling scared or not sure what they can do to join in this fight against this regime, they can see people standing up for what is right, standing up to protect immigrants, and seeing that they are not alone, that other people feel the same as they do. Finding others helps the work of social justice move forward. We can't do this work alone, in community we find strength.”

“This,” said Roberta Cameron, of Housing Medford, “is about supporting our entire community. What’s going on [with ICE] is a threat to all of us, no one excluded.”

Protestors decried the violence being meted out by ICE on immigrants, citizens, and anyone who disagrees with government policies or how they are being implemented.

When asked why she had come out, Vera Pavel said, “We’ve got to do something; it looks like Nazi Germany.”

Jennifer Yanco, a member of Safe Medford, which called for the standout, shares that fear: “Everyone who does not want to live in a police state must speak up; we need to raise our voices loud and clear while we can,” she said, emphasizing the urgency, “the time to do so is narrowing.”

Yanco encourages Medford residents to get involved through Safe Medford and Mystic Mashup Indivisible.