News release
Moms Lead Parade of Advocates in Support of Liberty, Justice and Freedom for All
May 12, 2017
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
Families Celebrate Mother’s Day by Marching in Solidarity with Immigrants, Refugees and All Vulnerable Communities
Today, ahead of Mother’s Day weekend, moms are leading a parade of advocates and volunteers to deliver thousands of Statue of Liberty figures to President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and to every member of the U.S. Senate to remind them that our diversity — and people caring about each other — is what has made our nation strong, innovative and prosperous; not the opposite.
MomsRising organized the event, joined and supported by Faith in Public Life, National Women’s Law Center, National Immigration Law Center, National Council of La Raza, and United We Dream. The delivery is designed to send a message to leaders about the importance of liberty, justice and freedom for everyone.
This show of solidarity is in response to the administration’s policies, which do not reflect what has made our nation great or the kind of country moms want for our children, including the increase in unfair ICE raids, attempts to ban people from Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the United States, and the push for a wall along the Mexican border.
“We’re here to raise the torch for liberty, justice and freedom; and to say we won’t allow extremists in Congress and President Trump to extinguish the light that has guided our nation,” said Donna Norton, executive vice president of MomsRising. “We’re here to take a stand against walls, against unfair, callous deportation policies that divide families, and against religious tests that exclude refugees who need safe homes for their families. We've come a long way as a nation together, and we’re not turning our backs on each other, or on the American dream, now.”
“We moms will not stand for the Trump administration’s immoral marginalization of hard-working mothers and families who deserve access to high quality health care,” said Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life. “We will not stand for the criminalization of immigrant and refugee families, and we will be there to defend against every effort to tear them apart. As a pastor, I believe in extending a hand to people in their hour of desperate need.”
“Liberty and justice are enshrined in our Constitution and we will not let our laws or values be eroded,” said Manar Waheed, Legislative and Advocacy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union. “We will keep fighting to ensure that the rights of immigrants and refugees are protected, families are not separated, and Muslims are not discriminated against. No matter what you look like, where you came from, or how or whether you practice your faith—America belongs to all of us, and we the people will make sure our laws are upheld.”
“We are living a political moment that is frightening for millions of moms,” said Fatima Goss Graves, National Women’s Law Center Senior Vice President for Program and Incoming President. “Women are facing unprecedented threats to their freedoms and too many are struggling to gain economic security for themselves and their families. Every day too many children are worrying that a parent will be deported. Across the country, kids and parents are experiencing harassment based on their name and family background. But mothers of all backgrounds are joining forces to demand an America that values the rule of law and finds strength in the diverse fabric of our society.”
“On this Mother’s Day we honor Lady Liberty for lighting the way towards justice,” said Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Deputy Vice President of the Office of Research, Action, and Legislation at National Council of La Raza. “We take up her torch to remind the President, AG Sessions and Congress, of their duty to protect one of our greatest national assets – the strength of our diversity – and stop the reprehensible attack being waged on millions of American families through anti-immigrant, and anti-health care policies. NCLR stands with MomsRising and our American family, for Liberty and Justice for all!”
“Trump’s mass deportation agenda – tearing apart families, jailing moms and babies, and criminalizing our communities - isn’t just immoral, it’s immensely costly,” said Jessie Hahn, National Immigration Law Center Labor & Employment Policy Attorney. “Congress should not give Trump one more penny for his mass deportation force or border wall – they should stand on the side of family unity and against a budget that hurts moms and children.”
MomsRising members Carolina Rubio and Shereen Abdelfattah also spoke at the event.