M AU R A H E A L E Y: M A K E M A S S A C H U S E T T S A S A N C T UA RY S TAT E !
The beginning of Donald Trump’s second presidency feels very different from his first. Democrats like Governor Maura Healey used to pretend to be “the resistance.” Now she has declared that Massachusetts is “not a sanctuary state,” meaning her administration will collaborate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Healey slashed emergency housing last year, artificially capping the system at 7,500 families and returning homeless families to the street after only 9 months. Now, her administration wants to cut the maximum stay to 6 months and force many families onto the streets after just 30 days, according to a January 15 press release.
Just like in 2017, Trump isn’t wasting any time enacting his billionaire agenda. On his first day in office, he signed over 200 executive orders, including orders to end birthright citizenship, to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, to roll back restrictions on oil and gas expansion in Alaska, and to pardon all participants in the January 6 insurrection.
At a time when it’s so crucial to fight, Democrats like Maura Healey are parroting Trump’s rhetoric of demonizing immigrants. We responded by launching a campaign urging Governor Healey to declare Massachusetts a sanctuary state.
ICE officers immediately established an intimidating presence in Dorchester, East Boston, Chelsea, and elsewhere across the state. In this new political climate, ICE has been emboldened—they are openly threatening schools and other previous “safe zones.”
2. Stop the racist demonization of immigrants! Immigrants are not “criminals” like Governor Healey has proclaimed, and such language only serves to divide working people.
In the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration, the Boston Branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) held organizing meetings to prepare This behavior reflects a broader for protests on Inauguration Day. With rightward shift within the Democratic Trump officially in office, building Party—Kamala Harris’ presidential organization is now more important than campaign openly embraced Israel’s ever. We will continue hosting organizing genocide in Palestine and Wall Streetmeetings every Saturday from 4-6 p.m. at friendly policies rather than championing the Boston Liberation Center at 194 Blue the interests of the working class. Hill Ave in Roxbury. One of Trump’s first actions as President in 2017 was to sign an executive order enacting a “Muslim ban,” banning immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days. In response, people began storming airports demanding an end to the policy and civil liberties organizations launched lawsuits challenging the order. It was ultimately the mass movement that was decisive in striking down this iteration of the ban.
The attacks on immigrants are just one piece of Trump’s attack on the working class in this country. Nearly all the rights and social services we depend on today were won through decades of struggle in the past. From the civil rights movement to the women’s and LGBTQ movements, the working class had to fight for what we deserve. Trump and his billionaire friends intend to launch a full assault on working people in this country to roll back our hard-fought victories.
The campaign’s demands are: 1. No state or local law enforcement collaboration with ICE!
3. No new restrictions on housing assistance! The governor wants to require that nearly all those seeking housing assistance show proof of citizenship, adding further red tape for those already struggling to get the help they need. 4. No ICE in Massachusetts public schools or other public institutions! Schools should be safe spaces for children, regardless of their immigration status. We need to make our voices heard! Sign the petition at SanctuaryStateMA.org, and join our weekly meetings Saturdays 4-6 p.m. at the Boston Liberation Center!
BEN GAUDIOSI AND JOCELYN SANTIAGO, PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION PAGE LAYOUTS:
Phoebe Delmonte: p.1,4,5 Bota Saudabayeva: p.2,3,7 Adrian Alvarez: p.6,8