If you haven’t yet, please read rflctammt’s diary on the four, www.dailykos.com/… Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse:
More information from the AP story on concentration cages in Texas (emphases mine):
Attorneys: Texas Border Facility is Neglecting Migrant Children
A 2-year-old boy locked in detention wants to be held all the time. A few girls, ages 10 to 15, say they’ve been doing their best to feed and soothe the clingy toddler who was handed to them by a guard days ago. Lawyers warn that kids are taking care of kids, and there’s inadequate food, water and sanitation for the 250 infants, children and teens at the Border Patrol station.
-snip-
On Wednesday there were three infants in the station, all with their teen mothers, along with a 1-year-old, two 2-year-olds and a 3-year-old. There are dozens more under 12. Fifteen have the flu, and 10 more are quarantined.
-snip-
An 8-year-old taking care of a very small 4-year-old with matted hair couldn’t convince the little one to take a shower.
-snip-
Border Patrol knew the dates of their visit three weeks in advance.
[What was it like before they knew inspectors were coming?]
All they’re getting to eat is oatmeal for breakfast, instant noodles for lunch, and a burrito for supper. With some cookies and sweet drinks. Without toothbrushes or toothpaste. These children will be damaged for life from malnutrition and dental problems — IF they survive the flu and whatever else they’re picking up in crowded and unsanitary conditions without beds nor adequate shelter. In addition to severely damaged mental health.
What can we do? I have the below suggestion. Please make others (nonviolent) in the Comments!
Tell ABC to cover this and keep covering it until the children are released!
Tell CBS to cover this and keep covering it until the children are released!
Tell NBC to cover this and keep covering it until the children are released!
If the NBC form doesn’t work: NBC Contact Information:
“To report an error or comment on NBCNews.com, please email contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com “.
If you aren’t outraged and taking action, look at the lead photo again.
What would you do if it was her??
Reptublicans: Don’t give me any horse crap about “they should have stayed home”. They’d be dead if they stayed home, that’s why they’re traveling here to LEGALLY ask for asylum — and why nothing we do short of death will discourage them!
EDIT: I am NR, so as long as you’re nonviolent, please consider yourselves +1!
Also too, what would you do if it was her? (proportionately, the children are in much smaller cages)
Added from the Comments:
Here are some concrete ways to help:
Pledge your extra airline miles to getting lawyers to the camp
h/t Kat Snyder — thank you!
Additional info:
Charity Navigator: This organization hasn't been in business long enough to be rated.
Lawyers for Good Government: You can also volunteer!
“Donate to Raicestexas “ h/t hester — thank you!
More info:
Charity Navigator gives RAICES 3 out of 4 stars — but despite 3 stars for transparency, RAICES has also earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar! They also have 4 stars for financials. They have closed 51,000 cases.
You Can Also Volunteer for RAICES — lawyer or not, adult or not.
Update 2:
From the New Yorker article: Emphasis mine: This never needed to happen:
Almost every child that we interviewed had a parent or relative in the United States. Many of them had parents in the United States and were coming here to be with their parents. Some of the children that we interviewed had been separated from their parents. Most of them were separated from other adult relatives. Almost all the children came across with an adult family member and were separated from them by the Border Patrol. Some of them were separated from their parents themselves, other times it was a grandmother or aunt or an older sibling. We don’t know where the parents are being kept.
Go to your legislators’ Town Halls and raise hell, they can’t ignore constituents directly in front of them: Keep track here: Interactive Town Hall Map or sign up at link for email notification. So far it seems up to date; listed town halls range from tomorrow to June 29.
Update 3: More action items you may want to choose from:
Actblue.org has set up a portal to donate simultaneously to over a dozen advocacy and aid groups working to help the kids. Support Kids At The Border
h/t Ambular
Rate the DOJ lawyer who argued that the babies are “safe and sanitary” enough, Sarah Fabian. You too can write a scathing review.
h/t dmhlt 66 in durrati’s diary, www.dailykos.com/…
Update 4: The responsible news organizations currently will only show blurred faces, partial faces, or backs of heads. But here are a few of the real babies in the real cages:
Update 5: Lights for Liberty Vigil to End Human Detention Camps on Friday, July 12, 2019. Find an Event or Find Out How to Hold an Event here!
h/t NP40