Local leaders called on Michigan’s congressional representatives to create and support policies that limit the power of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a press conference hosted by the NAACP Detroit Branch on Friday morning, Jan. 30.
Besides the NAACP, the event included representatives from several groups, including the United Auto Workers Ford unit, Latino Americans for Social and Economic Development, the Arab American Civil Rights League, the National Conference of Black Lawyers Michigan Chapter and local churches. The news conference followed weeks of intense immigration enforcement and protests in Minneapolis that have left at least two dead.
NAACP Detroit Branch president, the Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, called on Michigan’s congressional delegation to stand firm against ICE by denying any additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security, withholding funds already allocated for ICE, providing independent investigations into killings and abuses, passing policies to unmask and provide additional training to agents, ending federal immunity for agents, removing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and others in DHS from power and more.
Pastor of Gailee Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Tellis Chapman, said the group didn’t gather to make a statement but to “indicate to the press and to the world who is listening that we propose credible change in our country’s culture and racial climate.”
“It’s Minnesota now, but it would be another city tomorrow,” he said. “We appeal to the powers that be to write policy that will stop ICE raiders and FBI agents from breaking into our places without warrants, shooting us, flash bombing us, profiling us, racially profiling us, pepper spraying us, choking us and killing us and stop them from getting immunity to do it all over again.”
Last week, Michigan Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters said they would vote against a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, and a number of Michigan representatives posted statements after immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse for Veterans Affairs.
Anthony urged more Michigan representatives, especially Republicans, to comment on the situation and take further action to change policies.
“It’s troubling that Republicans will not stand up and say something,” Anthony said. “John James — where the hell is he at? All these people who want to seek higher office, if this is how you’re doing now at this office, we know what you won’t do at a higher office. Same thing for if you’re a Democrat or independent. It doesn’t matter. Now is the time to open up your mouth, declare where you stand, and we hope and pray it is with the people, not with this president.”
Media representatives for James did not immediately respond to Free Press emails requesting comment.
Many who spoke during the 45-minute press conference said people play an important role in changing the culture, whether it be in the voting booth, at protests, through helping neighbors, as seen in Indianapolis, or even filming ICE interactions.
“We call on our community to certainly contact your representatives, come out when you get the call, to join an organization that is attacking and fighting this situation, to keep your cameras trimmed and burning so that when you see situations that occur you can film it,” Anthony said.
A’Naya Jones, Vice President of the NAACP Michigan State Conference Youth and College Division, said one way people can contact senators and ask them to oppose further funding to DHS is through the NAACP campaign to text “DRYICE” to 20707.
“Accountability is not anti-law enforcement, it’s pro democracy and pro safety,” Jones said. “That’s why we are calling for transparency, including unmasking ICE agents and ending practices that terrorize communities rather than protect them.”
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NAACP, Detroit leaders condemn ICE action, call for pause in funding
Reporting by Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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