By Cheryl Rattner Price
SAN DIEGO — This is a plea for help. At this time, 2,300 children have been separated from their families as they try to cross the border into the United States. There is currently no clear plan, system, or strategy for reunification.
The core philosophy of The Butterfly Project is to remember the children of the Holocaust, act responsibly in the present, and create a more peaceful future. Today, we are seeing terrifying parallels to history where an entire group of people is being targeted and dehumanized by those in power. It is up to each of us as individuals to learn from the past and take a stand against this.
The Butterfly Project teaches the Power of One and educates about the dangers of apathy and silence in the face of injustice. When our Education Team goes into classrooms to tell their parents’ stories from the Holocaust, they emphasize the difference one person made in their parents’ survival. Today, we are asking each of you to step into your own power to make a difference right now.
Below are several ways you can get involved. We ask you to join us in being Upstanders and take action today against the inhumane treatment of the children.
Six Ways You Can Take a Stand:
1) DONATE MONEY. The ACLU is actively filing lawsuits on behalf of asylum seekers in order to ensure they have appropriate legal representation. The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) is a legal organization in Texas working to reunite families who have been separated at the borders. Both organizations are in need of donations to continue providing services to people facing this crisis right now.
Donate to the ACLU
Donate to RAICES
2) DONATE GOODS & NECESSITIES. Two organizations, Baby2Baby and KIND (Kids In Need of Defense), have partnered together create a Target registry of needed items for children being held in detention centers.
3) JOIN A RALLY. The organization Families Belong Together is organizing peaceful rallies and marches around the country to fight to demand better treatment for immigrant children and their families. Participate in a local rally or march and let your voice be one of thousands in the fight.
4) CONTACT YOUR OFFICIALS. Some Senators have created the Keep Families Together Act, but it needs support from both sides of the aisle. The humane treatment of people is not a partisan issue. Please contact your Senator and ask that s/he support the Keep Families Together Act.
5) SIGN A PETITION. ADL has created a petition to be delivered to Attorney General Jeff Sessions to learn from history and stop this inhumane treatment immediately. Click “Sign the petition” below to sign the petition.
6) VOTE. Voting in the primary and general elections is one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate the Power of One. Please make sure you are registered to vote, especially if you have recently moved.
The Butterfly Project has never sent an email like this before, and we pray that will never have to send one again. We are committed to learning from the past, acting responsibly in the present, and creating a more peaceful future, and know that our involvement is critical right now. Yours is too.
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Price is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Butterfly Project for Holocaust remembrance.