Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

Lauren Smith loves history. She studied the life of Martin Luther King when she was in Fifth grade. “I loved the way he made change without violence. Even in elementary school, this man was my hero.”
Resistance Comes In Many Forms!
Now a junior at Sonoma Valley High School, Lauren has already shown that she, too, has a gift for leadership.
The French Nobel Prize author, Albert Camus, noted in his book of essays, “Resistance, Rebellion, and Death,” that morality and politics are never separate.
“I do speak my mind. I started to not care what people think. I try to be polite, but I’m very argumentative when I’m passionate about something. I’m setting an example for other students, or trying to.”
President Trump’s policy to forcibly remove millions of immigrants has resulted in an amazing level of moral indignation and counter organization. If the little community of Sonoma reflects sentiment in other parts of the nation, we are experiencing a rising revolutionary spirit not seen for many years. Moral indignation has given rise to community responses that are important to note.
Two days after the election, she organized a student walkout in response.
It wasn’t her idea, but when she heard from other students that they wanted to express their feelings about the election, she began organizing. She put it out on social media, she contacted the school administration and the campus police, and she made sure she had the sheriff’s phone number at the ready in case there was any misbehavior. The walkout took place the next day.
Sonoma Valley Unified School District Early in March the SVUSD adopted a “safe haven” policy assuring students and parents that the schools will not be
an agency of the federal government in the event of mass deportation. The school board unanimously voted for a policy that will make Sonoma “a safe and welcome place for students.” One hundred citizens in attendance brandished large paper red hearts to indicate applause. As speakers addressed the Board their remarks were followed by silent heart waves. It was very impressive.
In early March there was standing room only meeting at El Verano School to hear representatives of the IIBA (International Institute of the Bay Area) explain the rights of immigrants and how to develop protections for self and family. The meeting split into English and Spanish sessions. Lucy Benz-Rogers (IIBA) and other reps provided an overview of immigration law.
When the hour arrived, hundreds of people poured out of classrooms. “I had to yell for people to be quiet so I could tell them that this is a demonstration
of peace and love, not a protest. People could join us as long as they were advocates for equality. This is completely peaceful,” I told them. And it was.
Community Meetings - Over 300 Attend El Verano School Meeting
She had expected perhaps forty students to show up, but there were about 500.
“Were you impressed with the result?” I asked her.
“Really!”
High school students are overlooked, she felt. “It’s our future and we’re
inheriting the country! I wanted to make it known that our high school was advocating for equality. And a lot of people recognized that we are here, we are aware, and we’re mad about what’s happening.”
Another day a meeting was held at Hanna Boys Center on “Know Your Rights.” The Sonoma Valley Democrats organized Immigration and Rapid Response Team Committees at their March meeting to deal with issues surrounding sanctuary cities and sites. The Springs Community Alliance devoted its March meeting to immigration and the protection of residents. More “Know Your Rights and Prepare To Resist Meeting” are planned at El Verano School.
What makes Lauren mad is the “sexist homophobic student culture. So many of my friends have had to come out to me in secret. I can’t stand for people to judge people for their sexual interests. I used my voice for people who can’t.”
The march had a positive effect on the student culture. “The last couple of months there’s been such a feeling of unity at the school.”
Time to act is now! The local group that worked with the School Board on the safe haven resolution is leading an ambitious program for local citizens. They are forming resistance committees – you are invited to join. *No Chairperson yet. Creating Sanctuaries – Chair Dave Ransom
That feeling prevailed March 8 at the rally Lauren organized in honor of International Women’s Day. “That was to unify the city,” she said. “It wasn’t a walkout from school. I didn’t want to repeat what I did before. It wasn’t about me personally.” At the open mic, young women read poems and spoke their wishes for women’s equality. “Older women were inspired by the younger women and vice versa. And the perspectives of feminist men, it was lovely to hear them speak.”
Legal Fund & Defense – Chair Steve Barbose, sbarbose@vom.com Family Preparedness Planning*
Rapid Response Teams*
Citizenship Assistance, Chair Claudia Robbins. crobbins@vom.com Immigrant Rights Advocacy*
The rally drew about three hundred people of all ages. The girls were charming, the message uplifting. Perhaps it is a quality Lauren communicates, a way of drawing people together rather than driving them apart. She’s straightforward, but not abrasive.
Communications*
She plans to study film in college, to become a social activist, “to make change using my art to spread equality.”
Wish to participate? Contact the Committee Chair or one of the following: Mario Castillo (Mario@laluzcenter.org), Dave Ransom (dransom391@gmail.com), Claudia Robbins (crobbins@vom.com), La Luz Bilingual Center (707) 938-5131)
Family Resistance Take steps to resist attempts to deport family members.
Passport Program: Visit the central Post Office any day. It is a common sight to see families lined up to obtain passports at a cost of $90 (standard) or $125 (expedited). One must be a U.S. citizen to obtain a passport. Passports may be for all or a portion of the family. A passport proves citizenship and provides identity. Post office employees say that since the inauguration of President Trump the number of passport applications per day has risen from about seven (7) to forty (40).
Guardianship Program: The La Luz Bilingual Center has embarked on a program where parents identify legal guardians for their children who are U.S. citizens. In the event of parental deportation the children will stay with their guardian(s). Ms. Patricia Galindo of La Luz who manages the program says that parents say once they do this “they sleep better; my children will be safe.” Parents fear that if they are deported and have not made arrangements for their children, the offspring will be placed in a home or detention center. By having a legal guardian for their children parents know they will be safe. Their schooling won’t be disrupted and they know who is caring for their children. Guardians, according to Ms. Galindo, are usually close relationships like brothers, sisters, godparents, aunts and uncles. Since the election of President Trump, Ms. Galindo estimates over seventy (70) families have signed guardianship papers from February through mid-March. How difficult this experience must be for the parents.
Join the resistance! Each meeting attended, committee joined, resolution adopted, and legal document signed is in its own way an act of defiance.
She’ll make her hometown proud.
That sense of solidarity is spreading through town. The school board approved a heart-warming resolution Feb. 28, expressing its commitment to protect its immigrant students as much as it can and provide support to children and families who may be affected by the sudden removal of a family member. Now the city council has begun work on its resolution for “inclusion” of all residents. Mayor Hundley, now three months into her one-year term, appears comfortable taking a leadership role on this issue. Some 150 people attended the council meeting March 5 to support Hundley’s initiative in sponsoring a resolution; many of us spoke. The sense of community, of hearts joined in unity regardless of differences of opinion, was victorious. In these troubled times of reckless and reactionary leadership, anything may happen; but strong hearts joined together is what will carry us through.
On Sunday, March 5, the members of the Shambhala Center celebrated the Tibetan New Year of the Firebird. A hotheaded, passionate creature, the Firebird seems perfect for our time. My young friend Dante Cushman was there with his family; he and his brother Roman had to leave to attend a rehearsal at Cinnabar Theatre of Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.
Still ahead is a special event at Reader’s Books, celebrating the publication of the first anthology by the Sonoma Writer’s Association, Thursday April 6 at 7:00 pm at a30 E. Napa Street. . Hope to see you there!
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