'Refusing to accept fear as normal:' Protesters march in Lake Worth Beach for immigration reform
‘Walk in Love’ organizers call for PBSO to end state-required ICE agreements
SINGING PROTEST SONGS and holding signs, about 100 people marched through downtown Lake Worth Beach on Saturday in a festive call for immigration policy reforms.
“We cannot remain silent and do nothing while our immigrant neighbors…are hauled away to detention camps, deported systematically and relentlessly, (with) family and children left suffering from that separation,’’ said organizer Barbara Eriv, head of the Palm Beach County Indivisibles Immigration Coalition.
“These are family-minded people. They are hardworking people. They are part of our community. These are not the criminals (ICE agents) should be going after,’’ she said.
The “Walk in Love” march kicked off at 11 a.m. at a symbolic starting point, outside the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation. It ended less than a mile to the east with a rally at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
PBSO, which provides police services for Lake Worth Beach, has a 287g agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requiring deputies to assist state and federal agents on immigration matters.
But the policy has left many residents living in fear — not only of federal and state immigration agents but of the local police officers charged with keeping the city safe, advocates said at the rally.
“It makes people think twice before driving to work, before taking their kids to school, before calling for help when something is wrong,’’ Alexandra Orellana of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said to the crowd gathered on the grass in St. Andrews’ shaded backyard on North Palmway.
“That kind of fear does not stay contained. It spreads across entire communities and when people don’t feel safe reaching out for help or reporting harm, that affects all of us,’’ she said.
Florida Highway Patrol has been responsible for 80 percent of the more than 1,500 arrests on federal immigration charges in Palm Beach County since August. PBSO deputies have arrested 276 people, fourth among sheriff’s offices in Florida, according to a WLRN report.
“Trust is what keeps communities strong, and policies like 287g make that trust harder to build,’’ Orellana said.
“That is why we are calling on Sheriff (Ric) Bradshaw to withdraw Palm Beach County from the 287g program,’’ she said. “We ask him to take the opportunity to choose policies that bring people closer to safety, not to push them further into fear.’’
Although the request was met with loud applause, it’s unlikely to be granted. Florida law requires all 67 county sheriffs to sign 287g agreements, which are voluntary in most other states.
Eriv said she was encouraged by comments earlier this week from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, a top Republican, who at a meeting of the State Immigration Enforcement Council called for an end to deportations of undocumented immigrants who “add to society.”
Although Judd’s comments were rebuked by Gov. Ron DeSantis, they were viewed by rally participants as a sign of hope that local law enforcement might be more sympathetic to the concerns of immigrants.
“We are not pointing fingers at anyone,’’ Eriv said. “We are trying to partner with our local officials and law enforcement. We want to see change.’’
Lake Worth Beach’s elected leaders have been aware of immigration enforcement concerns since last year. Protesters have packed the commissioner chambers and rallied outside City Hall.
In August, city commissioners voiced concerns to a top PBSO official that federal policies could erode community trust in deputies.
At a Feb. 24 commission meeting, Commissioner Mimi May announced that she, Mayor Betty Resch and Vice Mayor Sarah Malega had met in Tallahassee earlier this year with Dave Kerner, who oversees the Florida Highway Patrol. Kerner seemed sympathetic, May said, when they told him about concerns commissioners have heard from residents.
But advocates for immigrants said city officials need to do more. Eriv said she was disappointed that the City Commission earlier this month rejected a request by immigration advocates for a special meeting to discuss the community’s concerns about immigration enforcement.
Saturday’s marchers and rally participants included one elected leader, Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Chris McVoy, who has been the commission’s lone vocal critic of federal immigration policies.
The march proceeded east along the north sidewalk of Lucerne Avenue so that on-coming motorists on the westbound road had a clear view of the protest signs. Among the messages: “Stop Mass Deportations”... “You Belong Here” … “Abolish ICE Now”.
Many motorists honked their horns in support and flashed a thumbs-up; at least one opposing motorist yelled “No!” as he drove past them.
“Our presence here today sends a clear message – we will not be divided by fear,’’ said David Hall, president of Lake Worth Interfaith Network.
“We will not turn away from one another,’’ he said. “We will stand up for justice, compassion and the sacred worth of every human life.’’
The rally included prayers, music performances and a food drive, with the Guatemalan Mayan Center, to assist families torn apart by immigration enforcement.
“Walking in love means showing up, but it also means taking action when it matters,’’ Orellana said, “It means standing up for our neighbors. It means refusing to accept fear as normal.’’
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These protesters can pay for illegal immigrants medical, education,housing,food, phone, clothing,transportation etc. The protesters need to put their money where their mouth is and financially support the illegals. If they have houses they need to take as many illegals as they can to live with them and financially support them. Carrying a bunch of signs does nothing. If they really cared they would be financially supporting them instead of those tax payers who prefer the money go to poor Americans.