What you can do to help the Ohio immigrant community today

Saturday, September 12

This Is What We Need

GET TOGETHER. We really need each other right now.

There have been beautiful events and tributes honoring the life of Pierre Damas Bel, the young man from Springfield whose promise and future was cut short by the Trump administration’s unforgivable immigration policy. If you can, please donate to his family’s expenses and brothers’ futures.

A lot is happening Saturday, September 12 — please join us for any or all of it.

• If you are in Central Ohio, come say “hi” during the day at 934Fest at 934 Gallery in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood! Dexter will be there, tabling for OIA and supporting our friend, muralist, tattoo artist, and local legend Luka Weinberger. Listen to Luka talk about their new mural, “The Torchbearers,” here. It is about “ice,” yes, and it is also about the “legacy being passed down, of us taking care of each other.” Follow @lowbarluka and support their work.
• Then at 6pm, there will be a virtual memorial service for Pierre, organized by the Haitian Bridge Alliance, Haitian Support Center, Springfield G92 and Haitian Community Network. The service will include reflections from his father, friends, colleagues, and classmates, who will share some of their favorite memories. Register here.
• Finally, at 7:45pm ET, the Haitian Community Organizing Committee invites everyone to gather in front of Springfield City Hall for a candlelight vigil in Pierre’s honor. White attire is encouraged, and “unshackle Springfield” is still the demand.  

Here are some other ways you can “show up” for our community.

• One of our Haitian friends who was deported started an Etsy shop to take care of their family. They’ve created positive, faith-based, pro-Haiti, and pro-humanity shirts, mugs, hats, and other items. These would be great to wear at your next protest, and wonderful gifts. Purchase them here and spread the word here!
• There’s a volunteer team busy putting money on detained immigrants commissary and phone accounts as I write this email! Read all about it and learn how you can donate or get involved here. If you know someone who is detained and needs money for phone, food, or other items, contact the Ohio Immigrant Hotline. Because #WeKeepUsSafe and #WeKnowWhatWeNeed.

GET SMART. We’ve been told a lot of lies, but OIA has the truth for you.

• Read our fact-check of Secretary Mullin. When the DHS Secretary held a press conference in Warren County last week he spoke exactly one truth — his name. Read the facts behind his fictions here.
• Learn the history behind the agencies terrorizing our communities. As I wrote in my testimony on Flock cameras to Columbus City Council, the systems we are told exist to provide “public safety” were created to protect one group of people — wealthy white men. Whether we’re talking about sheriffs and local police or ICE and the Border Patrol, their origins all stem from the same poisonous family tree. Read this blog post to learn some of the things we weren’t taught in school, but should have been, and what we need to achieve real public safety for all.