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Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets in cities across the country on Saturday to send the Trump administration a clear message: Families belong together. More than 600 "Families Belong Together" marches have been planned in protest Trump's "zero-tolerance" immigration policy. And if you're planning to join the protest, you might be wondering what's the best way to get your message across. These quotes make perfect "Families Belong Together" protest signs.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Leadership Conference, MoveOn.org, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance have partnered with dozens of other national and local groups to form the Families Belong Together Coalition, which organized Saturday's nationwide protest. The coalition is demanding a permanent end to the Trump administration's policy of family separation and detention as well as intensive efforts to reunite those children who have already been separated from their parents.
Although President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month to curb the separation of immigrant families, many critics say it wasn't enough. According to USA Today, questions and confusion have remained as immigration and law enforcement officials struggled with how to implement the administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policies in light of the change. While Trump's immigration policies call for every adult apprehended entering the country illegally to be criminally prosecuted, U.S. courts say children cannot be jailed or detained with a parent(s), resulting in confusion over how families can be kept together.
If you've been inspired to join the Families Belong Together Coalition and hit the streets in protest, let these quotes inspire your "Families Belong Together" protest sign.
"Family is not an important thing. It's everything."
Canadian-American actor Michael J. Fox is credited with giving the world this nugget of wisdom. Under the Trump administration's initial policy of separating families at the border, thousands of immigrant children were taken from their families in the first six weeks of the policy's implementation.
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
Anti-apartheid and human rights activist Desmond Tutu knows how dangerous it can be to not pick a side in the face of injustice. Not surprsingly, he often spoke out about conscience and against neutrality and oppression.
"Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.”
Leave it to a Disney movie, in this case Lilo & Stitch, to impart an important message about family. According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration has provided few details as to its plan for reuniting separated immigrant families, leading to concerns it may not be able to do so.
"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."
Former South African President Nelson Mandela uttered these words at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund in the 1990s. While he refering specifically to his own country's treatment of youth when he said it, the phrase holds true no matter the time or country held up for examination.
"A mother’s love for her child... crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."
"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path," Agatha Christie wrote in her book A Daughter's Daughter. The passage perfectly exemplifies why so many American mothers and fathers have been outraged over the Trump administration's family separation policy — they can empathize with immigrant parents by imagining it was their own child ripped away.
"Children are our most valuable resource."
Perhaps Trump would be willing to head the words of a former President? Herbert Hoover's words on children's importance may inspire him to better value the world's younger generation.
"Immigration is not just a link to America’s past; it’s also a bridge to America’s future."
Former President George Bush touched on America's unique relationship with immigration when signing the Immigration Act of 1990. He knew a country that had been built by immigrants who "came from every point on the compass... with fear and vision, with sorrow and adventure, fleeing tyranny or terror, seeking haven, and all seeking hope" would continue to be strengthened by future immigrants.
“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.”
A number of presidents have spoken about immigrants' valuable contribution, These words were uttered by former President John F. Kennedy.
"History has its eyes on you."
Hamilton lyrics have become popular — and effective — protest messages as the immigration debate heats up.
Earlier this week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reunite all families separated at the border within 30 days. But the administration's refusal to give details as to its plan for reuniting families has immigration advocates concerned that many children won't be returned to their parents. In protests across the country Saturday members and supporters of The Families Belong Together Coalition demanded the Trump administration reunite all families and permanently end its separation policy.
