Sanctuary backers hold rally in support of Somerville status
Thousands of demonstrators braved freezing temperatures yesterday to take part in a rally outside Somerville High School aimed at supporting the community’s sanctuary city status and protesting President Trump’s controversial executive order on immigration.
“We’re here to celebrate and support our sanctuary city status. … Somerville will remain a sanctuary city,” Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone told those gathered. “Now is the time to stand up and speak out for what is right and what is true.”
With temperatures in the 20s, scores of supporters from Somerville and beyond cheered, chanted and waved signs, some of which read, “Don’t Comb Us Over,” “No Human is Illegal” and “We’re all Immigrants.”
Bambi Best of Somerville attended the rally with a sign reading, “Build Lives, Not Walls,” and said she decided to participate to show the Trump administration that city residents were ready to fight back against his vow to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities nationwide.
“I hope today it will send a message of peace and unity and we’re not going to take any crap from anybody,” Best said. “We’re going to stand our ground for our rights and for the rights of our brothers and sisters.”
In his first two weeks in office, Trump has sounded off against sanctuary cities — places where undocumented immigrants who have not committed a crime are not turned over to federal immigration officials.
While addressing the crowd, Curtatone stressed: “Immigrants love this country as much as you and I and you, President Trump. Even more.”