For the last 5 days, our immigrant communities have been targeted and terrorized in a series of coordinated raids across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Many have taken to the streets to protest the attacks we are witnessing in our democracy, violations of due process, and rights. What we are seeing unfold before our eyes is not normal, and we will not stand by in silence while families and our neighborhoods are torn apart. We know that these attacks on our communities of color are rooted in racism. We are not fooled by the manufactured chaos the Trump administration is orchestrating to justify an authoritarian consolidation of power.
Our immigrant communities are our neighbors. Our allies. This is our labor community advocating for good wages and green careers. These are members of our community who are leading our local environmental social justice movements. These are our members demanding clean air standards. This is our community with whom we have the privilege to work alongside to end neighborhood oil drilling. This is our community ensuring equitable access to open space and public lands for you to enjoy. This is our community working so that everyone has a healthy, resilient future.
I am so proud of the work that we get to do together at the Sierra Club to protect our planet, people, wildlife, wild places; ensure clean air and water for all, and fight climate change. I am also proud to be a daughter of immigrants. As an organization whose values include anti-racism and justice, it is the responsibility of all of us to stand with our immigrant communities being targeted by this administration’s lawless and un-American actions.
We want to take a moment to highlight the organizations that are on the frontlines defending our immigrant communities such as CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and ACLU SoCal (American Civil Liberties Union).
For resources on your rights and how to protect your neighbors, please look to our social post from January.
In solidarity,
Kim Orbe
Acting Chapter Director