The baby’s diaper needed changing. Alexandra and her husband were at 630 Sansome St. for an interview to finalize her husband’s green card application, which they’d been told was about to be approved.
Having heard about people in other cities being suddenly arrested and taken to detention, Alexandra worried about leaving her husband to go change that diaper. “Don’t worry, go” the federal agent told her, but she did worry, especially because she has a severe sight impairment and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to navigate the hallways and find him. The agent assured her she’d be fine and she went, only to return to find that her husband had, in fact, been whisked away.
He is still being detained, over a month later, despite having a spotless record and a green card that was about to be approved. This story has played out over and over again in San Francisco and across the country.
Rabbi Cat Zavis was among 42 faith leaders who decided that enough was enough. People of faith had been holding vigils at that building for months, praying, offering support to those who went in, and those who came out missing someone they loved. On this day ministers, rabbis and other people of faith decided that business as usual, what they clearly saw as injustice, needed to be disrupted. They were blocking the entrances to 630 Sansome St. hoping to shut down the immigration court and offices so that “no one would get kidnapped today.”
Some were chained to the doors and each other. They all knew that they would probably be arrested, planned to be absolutely nonviolent, but given the history of federal agents deploying pepper spray, tear gas, flash-bangs and other non-lethal weapons against peaceful protesters, there was fear of government violence.
I arrived at 7:15 a.m. to bear witness, support my friends who were putting their bodies on the line for their beliefs, and to report on what happened. For a few hours, those blocking the two entrances to the building stood, sang and swayed with the music as a hundred or so others stood nearby in solidarity. Dozens of volunteers closed off the streets, coordinating with local police and federal officers to keep everyone safe. Other volunteers stood ready to provide medical assistance if needed. Artists painted huge butterflies and this message on the streets: “Our Faiths Teach Us — LOVE THY NEIGHBOR — Disrupt Injustice.”
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One person told me she was there because too many people were being taken from schools, streets and their homes, people who were obeying our laws, going through the proper processes, showing up for their immigration meetings and hearings, only to be “kidnapped.”
Alexandra’s story was just one of literally thousands, heartbreaking, capricious, inhumane, and the antithesis of what these people of faith believe is the correct way to treat the stranger in our midst, and not just the stranger. Alexandra’s husband has been a beloved member of his Bay Area community for years, a man who, when standing in line at the grocery store, is likely to make three new friends before checking out. “We write each other letters every day and now he’s trying to help some of the other people he’s detained with!”
I told her he sounded like a wonderful man, reminding me of my own father who was the king of grocery store line conversations. She said she had “won the husband and baby lottery in life.” Then she smiled and mentioned that the PowerBall Lottery was worth over a billion dollars. I asked if winning that might make her life easier. She quipped, “Well, maybe we could buy one of the president’s Golden Immigration tickets and get my husband out.” She’s hoping that her lawyer’s habeas petition will free him before his next court appearance in February. Me too.
After a few hours, federal officers gave their third dispersal order, warning that protesters at the doors would be arrested if they didn’t leave. Then, they moved in, with local fire department responders cutting the chains. Each protester was lifted gently, handcuffed, and taken inside the building to be cited and released. In a message to the media, a DHS spokesperson said the event was a “riot” and 42 “rioters” were arrested. KTVU, KRON, KQED, ABC7, San Francisco Chronicle coverage and my experience easily debunk that description.
My pastor, the Rev. Tom Harris, the Rev. Dr. Diana Gibson, who married my husband and me, and a dear friend, elder Leif Erickson, from First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto, were among those arrested. I cried as I watched them singing as they were handcuffed and taken away. They were standing up for all the Alexandras. I hope that their action will prompt others, across the country, to do the same.
Craig Wiesner is the co-owner of Reach And Teach, a book, toy and cultural gift shop on San Carlos Avenue in San Carlos. Follow Craig: craigwiesner.bsky.social.
While the protest seemed like the right thing to do. I wonder if the unintended consequence of it has since caused people who were supposed to have their INS appointment that day any harm?
Great question. The organizers had lawyers on hand to offer support to everyone there for appointments that day and a plan in place for helping them with anything they needed because of the action.
Craig - one of these days you will need to acknowledge that there always two sides to a story. You and your cohorts may have the best of intentions, but you are essentially committing crimes in preventing federal agents and INS staff from doing their statutorily mandated jobs. You seem perfectly content with taking the law in your own hands. Has it occurred to you that your activities are hyped by the media and are incentivizing crowds that will come out for anything, perhaps for kicks? But, I have to admit, there is no other DJ contributor who can keep up with your collection of tear-jerking anecdotes.
Yawn, snore, ho-hum…here we go again. Another almost 800-word column from Mr. Wiesner with cherry-picked stories (whether true or not) of alleged incidents. While conveniently memory-holing that anyone crossing our border illegally is a criminal. And speaking of criminals, where is Mr. Wiesner’s outrage and calls for empathy for the families of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, Kayla Hamilton, Jocelyn Nungaray and many others victimized by invaders to our country? How about the families of victims killed by Newsom and other Democrat governors handing out drivers licenses to invaders to our country. We’ve heard of truck drivers killed innocent people on both sides of our country.
More power to Trump to increase enforcement operations and to remove those in our country illegally, regardless of the opposition that discriminates against law-abiding citizens. And I’d encourage everyone who sees something to say something and report potential criminals to ICE. Because you never know if you’ll be the next victim.
Instead of cherry-picked examples, Mr. Wiesner, how about explaining why Democrats have become the party of supporting criminals and terrorists more than the American people. How about writing about the numerous incidents of violence against ICE and the National Guard? Did you catch psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert’s interview with Fox News (https://www.foxnews.com/media/psychotherapist-says-trump-derangement-syndrome-real-pathology-plaguing-75-percent-his-patients)? Basically, he confirms what many of us already knew, TDS is real. How about treatment options for those afflicted with TDS? Thank you for your attention to this matter. And have a Merry Christmas.
Craig as usual you are my hero. Bravo for your fortitude and "walking the walk" as they say. I feel as though we are a nation at an inflection point, where we either stand united in morality or "hang together" as dispirit and lonely souls bereft of any meaningful existence. Either we hang together or...... and we have plenty of room and time to make an intelligent decision. Either we practice humanity or lose it. So bully for those who continue its practice.
So Mike - do you sincerely believe that those 10 million who came here illegally even thought for a minute about your position? "Either we practice humanity or lose it. So bully for those who continue its practice." They came for the freebies that you and I paid for and they paid nothing into it. But, they did bring their crappy cultures with them and now want to change us to make us accept their systems and attitudes. Since when is disagreeing bullying? The intelligent decision is to allow those who come here to become assimilated and become contributors instead of milking the system. Bleeding hearts does not make a great country.
Thanks for your comment, Mr. Caggiano, and the attempt at virtue signaling. When Democrats fail to honor their oath to the U.S. Constitution and some, including yourself, memory-hole the folks slaughtered by Hamas when they launched a surprise attack on Israel, I think we know there are folks who aren’t willing to stand united in morality, or even to support law and order. These folks have shown us who they are and they aren’t for the American people. Until they “walk the walk” as they say, to practice humanity instead of losing it, they shouldn’t be surprised when others get into the game and use their tactics against them. A belated Merry Christmas to you.
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(7) comments
While the protest seemed like the right thing to do. I wonder if the unintended consequence of it has since caused people who were supposed to have their INS appointment that day any harm?
Great question. The organizers had lawyers on hand to offer support to everyone there for appointments that day and a plan in place for helping them with anything they needed because of the action.
Craig - one of these days you will need to acknowledge that there always two sides to a story. You and your cohorts may have the best of intentions, but you are essentially committing crimes in preventing federal agents and INS staff from doing their statutorily mandated jobs. You seem perfectly content with taking the law in your own hands. Has it occurred to you that your activities are hyped by the media and are incentivizing crowds that will come out for anything, perhaps for kicks? But, I have to admit, there is no other DJ contributor who can keep up with your collection of tear-jerking anecdotes.
Yawn, snore, ho-hum…here we go again. Another almost 800-word column from Mr. Wiesner with cherry-picked stories (whether true or not) of alleged incidents. While conveniently memory-holing that anyone crossing our border illegally is a criminal. And speaking of criminals, where is Mr. Wiesner’s outrage and calls for empathy for the families of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, Kayla Hamilton, Jocelyn Nungaray and many others victimized by invaders to our country? How about the families of victims killed by Newsom and other Democrat governors handing out drivers licenses to invaders to our country. We’ve heard of truck drivers killed innocent people on both sides of our country.
More power to Trump to increase enforcement operations and to remove those in our country illegally, regardless of the opposition that discriminates against law-abiding citizens. And I’d encourage everyone who sees something to say something and report potential criminals to ICE. Because you never know if you’ll be the next victim.
Instead of cherry-picked examples, Mr. Wiesner, how about explaining why Democrats have become the party of supporting criminals and terrorists more than the American people. How about writing about the numerous incidents of violence against ICE and the National Guard? Did you catch psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert’s interview with Fox News (https://www.foxnews.com/media/psychotherapist-says-trump-derangement-syndrome-real-pathology-plaguing-75-percent-his-patients)? Basically, he confirms what many of us already knew, TDS is real. How about treatment options for those afflicted with TDS? Thank you for your attention to this matter. And have a Merry Christmas.
Craig as usual you are my hero. Bravo for your fortitude and "walking the walk" as they say. I feel as though we are a nation at an inflection point, where we either stand united in morality or "hang together" as dispirit and lonely souls bereft of any meaningful existence. Either we hang together or...... and we have plenty of room and time to make an intelligent decision. Either we practice humanity or lose it. So bully for those who continue its practice.
So Mike - do you sincerely believe that those 10 million who came here illegally even thought for a minute about your position? "Either we practice humanity or lose it. So bully for those who continue its practice." They came for the freebies that you and I paid for and they paid nothing into it. But, they did bring their crappy cultures with them and now want to change us to make us accept their systems and attitudes. Since when is disagreeing bullying? The intelligent decision is to allow those who come here to become assimilated and become contributors instead of milking the system. Bleeding hearts does not make a great country.
Thanks for your comment, Mr. Caggiano, and the attempt at virtue signaling. When Democrats fail to honor their oath to the U.S. Constitution and some, including yourself, memory-hole the folks slaughtered by Hamas when they launched a surprise attack on Israel, I think we know there are folks who aren’t willing to stand united in morality, or even to support law and order. These folks have shown us who they are and they aren’t for the American people. Until they “walk the walk” as they say, to practice humanity instead of losing it, they shouldn’t be surprised when others get into the game and use their tactics against them. A belated Merry Christmas to you.
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