The full footage from the vigil is now available at www.hatcityblog.com.
Highlights Here:
Online Videos by Veoh.com
Enjoy! (Thanks CTBlogger!)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
More on the Story of Said..
In a story eerily reminiscent of that of the Santos Family, though perhaps even more drastic and disturbing, Morroccan Immigrant, Said Zaim-Sassi was forced from his home in the early morning hours of Monday Morning, and now sits in a jail in Rhode Island awaiting his deportation trial, which will be held in Hartford, CT tomorrow morning. A report from WTNH states:
You can also watch the video of the story at the same link.
Wallingford (WTNH) _ A Wallingford family is demanding answers from the government for raiding their house and seizing a man in front of his kids.
Said Zaim-Sassi, a Moroccan immigrant, was doing everything he could to stay in this country legally but he lost his last court battle in January.
He told immigration officials he would surrender whenever they wanted, but instead they raided his home before dawn on Monday. Now relatives are saying that his children have been traumatized for no reason.
You can also watch the video of the story at the same link.
EMERGENCY ALERT! (warning, harsh language)
From People of Faith, CT:
Please Forward to your lists and congregations:
FREE SAID ZAIM-SASSI, STOP THE RAIDS
What: Press Conference and Protest on Recent Raids
When: 8:00 am Friday 24 August, 2007
Where: in front of Immigration Court, 450 Main Street, Hartford
Media Contacts: Khalil Iskarous 203-668-2698
Yusuf Zaim-Sassi 203-606-4942
At around 5:00 am on August 20, ICE agents raided the Zaim family home in Wallingford, CT. Yelling "where the f**k is Said? Where the f**k is Said?", agents pushed Said's mother-in-law to the wall. His terrified children woke as ICE shined flashlights in their faces, yelling profanities. They abducted Said in front of his traumatized family. Is he a killer? A rapist? A thief? No, he's a man who has lived for his family and his community. In the 20 years he has lived in the U.S., Said has had absolutely no criminal record and has been completely compliant with immigration requirements. His work and charity have benefited many in his community. ICE has treated him and his family like criminals. His three kids and his wife, all U.S. citizens, don't know when they will see him again. ICE's actions, designed to instill fear in the community, rip families apart.
Community members and activists from throughout Connecticut will be in front of Immigration Court in Hartford on Friday August 24 to demand the release of Said Zaim-Sassi and other innocents like him in detention. We will not allow our neighbors, our friends, and our family to be treated like animals.
Immigrants are workers, not criminals. Stop the Raids.
Sponsored by Unidad Latina en Accion.
Proudly endorsed by People of Faith.
Developing..
Please Forward to your lists and congregations:
FREE SAID ZAIM-SASSI, STOP THE RAIDS
What: Press Conference and Protest on Recent Raids
When: 8:00 am Friday 24 August, 2007
Where: in front of Immigration Court, 450 Main Street, Hartford
Media Contacts: Khalil Iskarous 203-668-2698
Yusuf Zaim-Sassi 203-606-4942
At around 5:00 am on August 20, ICE agents raided the Zaim family home in Wallingford, CT. Yelling "where the f**k is Said? Where the f**k is Said?", agents pushed Said's mother-in-law to the wall. His terrified children woke as ICE shined flashlights in their faces, yelling profanities. They abducted Said in front of his traumatized family. Is he a killer? A rapist? A thief? No, he's a man who has lived for his family and his community. In the 20 years he has lived in the U.S., Said has had absolutely no criminal record and has been completely compliant with immigration requirements. His work and charity have benefited many in his community. ICE has treated him and his family like criminals. His three kids and his wife, all U.S. citizens, don't know when they will see him again. ICE's actions, designed to instill fear in the community, rip families apart.
Community members and activists from throughout Connecticut will be in front of Immigration Court in Hartford on Friday August 24 to demand the release of Said Zaim-Sassi and other innocents like him in detention. We will not allow our neighbors, our friends, and our family to be treated like animals.
Immigrants are workers, not criminals. Stop the Raids.
Sponsored by Unidad Latina en Accion.
Proudly endorsed by People of Faith.
Developing..
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Vigil Results..
The Prayer Vigil for Immigrants Rights, and Racial Tolerance was an absolute success. 75-80 people came down to Kennedy Park to join in prayer, song, witness, and solidarity for the ideals that all human beings are equal, and that NO human being is illegal. A collection was taken on behalf of the Santos family (torn apart by ICE) and on behalf of ARC's emergency legal aid fund. Over $350.00's was raised for these two worthy causes. In addition to 7 clergy as speakers, there were roughly four or five other clergy in the gathering, as well as numerous lay members of various churches, as well as activists, community leaders, and public officials. There were members of the immigrant community, as well as supportive friends and concerned citizens. It was truly a microchosm of all that makes Danbury such a wonderful city. And all were united in a single purpose, to support, and stand in solidarity with our Immigrant brethren.
The event was not even marred slightly by the few anti immigrant protesters who found their way down to the site of the Vigil, intent on creating disruption. One man held up a sign that said "Immigrants have no rights" and another member of CTIC showed up and started loudly complaining. The man with the sign stood at a respectful distance, perhaps realizing that disrupting a religious assembly would be a very unintelligent move. The woman was quickly reminded of that, and left shortly.
It was a truly inspirational day to those of us gathered at Kennedy Park. We have pledged to work together in the future, to educate, to support, and to protest when needed, all in solidarity with our Immigrant brethren.
You can read the Danbury News Times Coverage of the event here.
And keep an eye on Hat City Blog for full video coverage, and write ups regarding the vigil.
The event was not even marred slightly by the few anti immigrant protesters who found their way down to the site of the Vigil, intent on creating disruption. One man held up a sign that said "Immigrants have no rights" and another member of CTIC showed up and started loudly complaining. The man with the sign stood at a respectful distance, perhaps realizing that disrupting a religious assembly would be a very unintelligent move. The woman was quickly reminded of that, and left shortly.
It was a truly inspirational day to those of us gathered at Kennedy Park. We have pledged to work together in the future, to educate, to support, and to protest when needed, all in solidarity with our Immigrant brethren.
You can read the Danbury News Times Coverage of the event here.
And keep an eye on Hat City Blog for full video coverage, and write ups regarding the vigil.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
When Local Police Collaborate with ICE...
Unfortunately, this type of article will most likely become an ongoing theme here at the Stop the Raids blog, unless we are finally able to create a true unification of compassionate and humane minded people to stand up to this sort of treatment of Immigrants. A Brazilian man living in Rhode Island was pulled over for a traffic offense, and when discovered to not have legal documentation, was held for questioning by ICE. This man had a dangerous form of epilepsy, that without medication, could result in his death. And though his Sister rushed to the Police Station immediately upon his arrest, to give the police officers his medications, the local police refused to administer the medication to this man, which then did, in fact, result in his tragic death.
What sort of country are we becoming, when we allow such things to occur without a nationwide outcry?
What sort of country are we becoming, when we allow such things to occur without a nationwide outcry?
Interfaith Vigil 8/12
Area clergy, and activists are coming together in solidarity to defend our Immigrant Community here in Danbury on 8/12, at 2pm at Kennedy Park. This Vigil is planned to be quite large, and from all appearances, promises to be a very strong statement on the issue of Immigrants Rights.
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