Important message from Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel)

We have two sons. Sebastian is 3, Francisco just 5 months old. I cannot imagine the emotional trauma my boys would experience if they were to be separated from Vanessa and me. But that’s what's happening at our border—forced family separations, denial of due process, imprisonment of kids and parents. To be silent while this takes place in our country is to be an accomplice.

I'm headed to Washington, D.C., this Saturday, June 30, to join tens of thousands of people for the Families Belong Together march. It's one of more than 700 events around the country taking place where, together, we will raise our voices loud and clear and call for an end to family separations and the suspension of due process at the border.

Click here to find the event closest to you—and please, please, please invite five friends to join in as well, by forwarding this email to them and posting about this day of action on Facebook or Twitter. Grab your neighbors, your extended family, and everyone you see and bring them along on Saturday.

I am devastated by the news that keeps coming out. I'm heartbroken that this is being done by our government intentionally and in our name. This is a horrific strategy to terrorize families and criminalize immigrants, instigated by the same people who have ended protected status for people from countries wrecked by natural and political disasters. They have moved to ban Muslims from entering our country. They have said that domestic abuse isn't a reason to grant asylum. 

But even as we experience this heartache, I am also blown away by how we have come together at this moment. We are showing up to support these families by the thousands.  

Please RSVP to join me on Saturday in Washington, D.C., or to join the event closest to you—and then tell everyone you know to take part. We all need to be there so spread the word, post about this day of action on Facebook and tweet about it—and share this link: familiesbelongtogether.org, where 700+ events are listed. There's one virtually everywhere: in all 50 states, D.C., my beloved Puerto Rico, and more than 350 congressional districts! 

People of good conscience from across the country and across the political spectrum agree on this: Families belong together. We've got to make this clear to our government: Reunite families. Close family prison camps. And hold the abusers accountable.

On Saturday, I'll be speaking out. Will you join me?

Siempre,

—Lin-Manuel Miranda

P.S. Here's a graphic that you can share on Facebook or on Twitter to raise awareness of the Families Belong Together events happening this Saturday. Please do share it!

 

New York City Bar Association Condemns Border Separations and Calls for Action

Earlier today, the City Bar released the following statement from President Roger Juan Maldonado:   The Administration's appalling decision to separate children from parents at the southern border runs afoul of due process, traumatizes children and violates the most basic tenets of how a just society conducts itself. The Administration could end this practice on its own, and the New York City Bar Association urges all to demand that their representatives pressure the White House to do so immediately. In addition, Congress should quickly pass legislation ensuring that a policy like this is never put in place again.   Since the statement was issued, the President signed an Executive Order stating, among other things, that "...it is...the policy of this Administration to maintain family unity, including by detaining alien families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources." While the impact of the Executive Order remains to be analyzed, look for information in upcoming issues of the eNews about how you can get involved and about our committees' ongoing efforts to respond to legal and policy developments at the border and in the immigration courts.  CONTACT US 212.382.6665 membershipservices@nycbar.org www.nycbar.org ®2018 The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. All rights reserved. 42 West 44th St, New York, NY 10036 212.382.6600 This message was sent to: ray@beckermanlegal.com If you no longer want to receive this notification, unsubscribe here.        Privacy | Forward to a colleague