The Port Washington community refuses to remain silent. On Monday, September 22, dozens of residents congregated at the Long Island Rail Road (Lirr) railway station to pronounce in the twelfth consecutive week of “Port Shines to Light”, a growing popular demonstration that demands dignity, justice and human rights for all including immigrants as well as accountability.
What began as a small act of solidarity has become a weekly tradition of peaceful protest, songs and civic courage. They waved flags, the voices were raised and the neighbors joined to denounce the dehumanizing policies of the current administration of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the damage inflicted on the vulnerable communities.
Among the speakers were organizer Jeff Siegel, the former candidate to the state Senate Kim Keiserman, Minister Quiana Hobdy of the Friendship Baptist Church in Roslyn and other local residents determined to be heard.
“There are people from Port Washington, and from all over the country, who are being treated with a lack of due process, dignity and respect for their well -being and health,” said Keiserman. “We need to raise our voice to our elected officials, neighbors and community leaders, because we run the risk that people are navigated as this injustice becomes part of our reality.”
«We should treat ourselves as human beings, everyone. However, people are still judged by their origin, the color of their skin or their way of life, ”said Minister Hobdy. «We should act with love, peace and support, feeding the hungry, helping the sick and supporting each other. It hurts that we are at a time when we still have to remind ourselves our shared humanity.
In this manifestation the message was clear: democracy depends on participation, and Port Washington is participating.
They denounce mass deportations
In another recent “Port Shines to Light”, among the speakers were Stacey Mellus, one of the organizers of the demonstration; The former Senate Kim Keiserman; Religious leaders and common residents who refuse to allow their voices to be silenced.
Keiserman urged the crowd to hold on to hope and his right to express himself freely. «It’s easy to feel fear and depression. But every time I think of this group, I renew my strength and my hope, ”he said.
Previously, in another protest at the Lirr station of Port Washington, organized by worried residents, the event made the stories of people visible. The attendees held candles, waved flags, sang songs together, carried protest banners and raised their voice in a call to justice, compassion and sustained action. The passersby touched their speakers in support of passing with the Protestants.
The community members approached the microphone to read some readings, including a letter from the religious leaders of Long Island, a letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics and a poem by Amanda Gorman. Among the prominent attendees were assemblyman Charles Lavine, Kim Keiserman, religious leaders and community members.
Rabina Jodie Soff read a letter recently published by interreligious leaders of Long Island who denounce the mass deportations:
“The undocumented immigrants of Long Island, who attend our religious services, who often work on poorly paid jobs that Native Americans refuse to accept, while paying one billion dollars in state and local taxes, whose children now fear that their parents or they themselves be taken away, call us to talk and act in their name.”
«Our numerous religious agencies, food banks and community support centers are on the front line against mass deportations. They listen to the stories of fear and intimidation. They offer workshops on how families can prepare if parents are separated from their children ».
«They try to find legal advice when their immigrant neighbors are arrested in judicial hearings, in their workplaces, on the street or in front of their homes. They observe how immigrants renounce medical visits for fear of being arrested, thus endangering their own health and that of the community. They advise and comfort in the midst of oppression ».
In turn, the organizer, Stacey Mellus, read a letter written by the American Academy of Pediatrics, NY AAP Chapter 2: “Trump’s last government was widely criticized throughout the country for her family separation policy, but what we are witnessing in our own neighborhoods is now a family separation with another name.”
«We have patients who fear that when your parents are waking up in the morning they are no longer. Parents are afraid to leave home to go to work, buy food or look for medical attention for them and their children ».
And the organizer, Stan Lacy, concluded with a moving poem by the poet Laureada Amanda Gorman of 2023 entitled “Hymn for those who suffer.”
The community of Port Washington, NY, plans to continue making these demonstrations every Monday night (7 pm) at the Lirr train station to ensure that the struggle for human rights remains visible, active, urgent and lively.
