I visited a detained asylum seeker and here is what happened
🗽 Our resolve is stronger than ever, our movement can not be silenced.
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Hi there! With everything going on this past week, I wanted to share a story from Trump 1.0.
I share this story with you as I wrote it in June 2018 as I recalled my visit with a detainee.
I visited a detained asylum seeker, and here is what happened.
"I see you. I hear you. I love you" is what I told him.
With a prison guard looking over my shoulder.
While we only met and had only one hour together, I also told him I would be his storyteller.
He is a Marielito, a middle-aged Cuban man who fled Cuba 38 years ago, seeking protection in the USA.
He has lived, loved, worked, and grown up in a country he calls his own (the USA) and loves very much.
He is not perfect. He made a mistake and paid his time over 15 years ago.
He tells me he checks in regularly with ICE and has tried to become a full citizen and paid thousands of dollars to crooked attorneys.
His company calls him regularly; they miss him.
His girlfriend also misses him. He worries for her.
He looks at me with eyes of regret and fear.
He tells me, "They plucked 25 in the middle of the night last night to fly back to Cuba."
He tells me the Cubans meet each morning to see who has left. Some are too old and should be in a nursing home.
He tells me they are choosing the weak, frail, sick, and old. The US pays Cuba $30,000 per prisoner, and when you get to Cuba, they put you in prison for 3-6 months and then finish you off. Little food, water and no medical help.
I tell him that violence will not end violence. Hate will not end hate. Retaliation will not end retaliation.
I tell him that only love and determination will end the hatred, xenophobia, and bigotry, that others like me are full of love and hope, and that we will fight for him. I tell him it may seem hopeless, but there is always hope.
Now, here we are facing Trump 2.0, and I want to remind all of us that:
No one can silence us from speaking out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
No one can take away our resolve to demand accountability from our leaders to uphold the people's will.
And no one can extinguish our movement for progress and empowerment for every American to thrive.
With Trump and MAGA taking power, we can rethink how we protect and expand the principles we believe in.
We must come together, address this setback, and build a stronger, more resilient movement for the future.
Together with you, I am looking forward to turning this disappointment into a driving force for accountability, justice, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that brought us here.
- Laurie Woodward Garcia
Together we can champion Progress and Power to the People
People Power United members are committed to championing progress and power to the people. We don't just complain; we do the work to make change happen.
Friends, this is a plea for help with our People Power United efforts. With our membership growing, we're building momentum, but we need your help to reach even more people—every bit of assistance counts. Together, we can make a difference!
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People Power United Updates
Our group is growing by leaps and bounds! Folks understand that with love in our hearts and hard work, we will reclaim our nation from cruelty, chaos, and confusion. We are having fun making impactful changes in our community! In case you missed it, this past week was busy:
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Laurie’s Post-Election Message
After living in Florida for over 30 years, I've witnessed firsthand how easily rights, freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law can erode in a red state.
I share with many of you the feelings of deep disappointment in seeing the election of former President Trump and convicted felon to the highest office of President, the loss of the U.S. Senate, and the precarious hold on the U.S. House. This is not just a matter of politics—it's personal.
The day we stop advocating fiercely for our families, friends, co-workers, and communities is the day we surrender to authoritarianism—and that day is not today.
There will be endless analyses, explanations, and debates about what happened and why. I'll share my thoughts when the time is right, but remember this: our voice remains strong.
No one can silence us from speaking out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
No one can take away our resolve to demand accountability from our leaders to uphold the people's will.
And no one can extinguish our movement for progress and empowerment for every American to thrive.
This experience, like many others, is an opportunity to rethink how we protect and expand the principles we believe in.
We must come together, address this setback, and build a stronger, more resilient movement for the future.
Together with you, I am looking forward to turning this disappointment into a driving force for accountability, justice, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that brought us here.
- Laurie Woodward Garcia
Join us to build People Power! Together, we can champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people.