[SPEAKER_00]: Hi everyone, welcome back to Room For Us, a space where queer voices thrive.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm your host P. While I usually cover a queer topic each week or dive into pop culture, today's episode is going to be a little bit different.
[SPEAKER_00]: Room For Us exists to share queer voices and stories and to help bring those voices into the spotlight.
[SPEAKER_00]: And because this platform is rooted in visibility, care, and justice, it wouldn't feel right for me to stay silent right now.
[SPEAKER_00]: As someone who is deeply progressive and committed to fighting for marginalized communities, speaking up is part of that responsibility.
[SPEAKER_00]: There's been so much distressing news lately that it feels strange to keep posting weekly episodes without acknowledging what is going on.
[SPEAKER_00]: So before anything else, I want to do a quick mental health check on the room for us listeners.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's okay to feel fed up and exhausted.
[SPEAKER_00]: Please be kind to yourself and continue to show compassion to others.
[SPEAKER_00]: What we're consuming right now isn't normal on any level.
[SPEAKER_00]: And while I live in Canada, what I'm seeing happening in the U.S. and beyond doesn't feel distant to me.
[SPEAKER_00]: I can't stay quiet about it.
[SPEAKER_00]: This is about human lives.
[SPEAKER_00]: We're seeing reports of people being detained without explanation, harmed or killed, people targeted for who they are, where they're from, or simply for existing in the wrong place at the wrong time.
[SPEAKER_00]: We all heard about five-year-old preschooler, Liam Ramos, in the Minneapolis area, who had recently been detained amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the area.
[SPEAKER_00]: Liam is far from the only child who has been taken into ice custody in the past year.
[SPEAKER_00]: An analysis of ICE data obtained by the deportation data project showed at least 3800 children have been detained by the agency under the second Trump administration.
[SPEAKER_00]: Over 500 of whom were under the age of 5.
[SPEAKER_00]: In September, the Supreme Court allowed ICE to stop people because of their race, the language that they speak, the way they dress, the location they are in,
[SPEAKER_00]: or the line of work they are in, pausing a lower court ruling that had barred such actions.
[SPEAKER_00]: The murders of the 37-year-old Minneapolis residence, Alex Pretty, and Renee Nicole Good by Federal Agents have sparked protests and outrage throughout the nation.
[SPEAKER_00]: Pretty and Good are just two people out of the last eight who have either been killed by federal agents or who have died while in immigration and customs enforcement custody this year so far.
[SPEAKER_00]: This is about human rights.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's about the basic idea that no one should live in fear of being sent away, shot, or punished.
[SPEAKER_00]: Human dignity and safety should never depend on citizenship, race, religion, or borders.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you're listening and this is affecting you directly or someone you love, I want you to hear this clearly.
[SPEAKER_00]: You're not alone.
[SPEAKER_00]: Fear, anger, grief, and exhaustion are all rational responses to what's happening.
[SPEAKER_00]: I obviously do not have all the answers and I won't pretend to, but I do know that silence can feel like abandonment and I don't want this space to be part of that silence.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you have the capacity, I encourage you to learn more, support organizations doing real work on the ground, and check in on the people around you.
[SPEAKER_00]: and if you don't have the energy for that right now, that's okay too.
[SPEAKER_00]: I know we're just trying to survive.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be sharing resources for anyone who needs legal information, support, or a place to start.
[SPEAKER_00]: One organization I want to mention is the NAACP, which is urging Congress to reject any new funding for ICE, citing serious harm, lack of accountability and the fear these enforcement practices create in communities.
[SPEAKER_00]: I also want to highlight a grassroots group called Minnesota 50501, a volunteer-led organization focused on defending democracy and supporting people powered organizing.
[SPEAKER_00]: Donations help them coordinate safe events and protests, provide supplies and communication tools, support accessibility and transportation and respond quickly when communities need support.
[SPEAKER_00]: This is the link where you can donate and I will be including all of these in the show notes So don't worry if you miss anything the link to donate is mn50501.org slash donate I also wanted to include this phone number carry Washington shared on our social media Where you can call the representative in your state and request they block future ice funding
[SPEAKER_00]: What Carrie said is really powerful in her video, there is power in community and coming together with like-minded people when you are feeling hopeless and afraid.
[SPEAKER_00]: These are the details that Carrie shared in her caption.
[SPEAKER_00]: The time to take action is now.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's do it together because if you think what's happening in Minneapolis cannot happen in your city or state, it can.
[SPEAKER_00]: Number to call.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll repeat that, 2-0-2-2-4-3-1-2-1, and here a sample script.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hi, my name is, and I'm a constituent from a new name your city and state.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ice murdered our neighbors and Minneapolis and is terrorizing communities across the country.
[SPEAKER_00]: You're elected to protect us, not fund this violence.
[SPEAKER_00]: Block future ice funding now.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
[SPEAKER_00]: You can also check 5 calls on Instagram or 5 calls.org.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're the team that makes advocacy accessible, making it easy for you to reach your members of Congress and make your voice heard.
[SPEAKER_00]: All you have to do is call.
[SPEAKER_00]: Room for us listeners and everyone who tuned into this episode.
[SPEAKER_00]: Please take care of yourselves and take care of each other.
[SPEAKER_00]: And thank you so much for letting me use the space to say something that is necessary.
[SPEAKER_00]: I hope you're keeping well and I will see you all next week.