Families Belong Together protesters fed up with immigration policies
Sam Ruland
The people of York didn't show their solidarity this Saturday, they showed their passion.
More than 100 people dressed in white and holding signs extended to the sky, gathered in Continental Square to challenge the Trump Administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy.
"White stands for peace," said Heather Turnage, a co-organizer of the York's "Families Belong Together" protest.
And this is a plea for peace, she said, one that urges the government to reunite the families they displaced.
"Children are in indefinite detention still, and it's not necessary," Turnage said. "There is no big immigration crisis. There is no reason to treat people like this."
These men and women knew exactly what they were standing up for. The executive order signed by President Trump on June 20 wasn't enough for them, and Janelle Mancuso said this was the way the country could fight back — by bringing a face to these new policies.
"It's children," Turnage said. "Children are being abused by our government."
From the grounds of the square, the voices of the protesters joined in unison as they repeated the words: "Say it loud, say it clear. Immigrants are welcome here." Many of them clapped their hands to the beat of the chant, while others held on to the hands or shoulders of those standing by them.
Turnage said when she heard the news of the protests growing across the country, she knew she needed to do something. She had been apart of similar demonstrations in the county before such as the Women's March back in January, and when Mancuso offered to help her put together Saturday's protest, the plan was set.
"People should not be in jail for legally seeking asylum, or for misdemeanors that hurt no one, especially not children," the event's registry read. "We are ashamed we have this immigrant detention center in our own backyard. We want to let them know: HUMANE immigration reform now!"
And that was the theme for the day, CASA lead organizer Laila Martin said wiping away tears from her face, letting "them" know — "them" being the government.
Martin led the protest in a familiar song, one many people in the crowd were familiar with, or at least partially familiar with. Into her microphone she sang the words, "Everywhere we go, people wanna know. Who we are, so we tell them. We are the immigrants: the mighty, mighty immigrants."
While most of the participants stood huddled together waving their signs, one York County resident, John Terlazzo, sat cross-legged on the ground away from the group.
And instead of holding his sign in the air, he wore it on a string around his neck. It was a quote from the Buddha which read, "Hatred never ceases by hatred. But by love alone is healed. This is an ancient and eternal law."
The reason he was at the protest, Terlazzo said, was simple — because he was sane, because no one should mess with children.
"I love God more than religion and that means I love all human beings," Terlazzo said, "every single one of them, even the really difficult ones. And you can't love the first if you don't love the second. It doesn't happen, it doesn't work."
This was just one of over 600 "Families Belong Together" protests taking place nationwide, and one of the 22 being held in Pennsylvania.
Other locations across the state included: Ambler, Beaver, Bethlehem, Bridgeport, Doylestown, Harrisburg, Horsham, Indiana, Johnstown, Kennett Square, Lancaster, Milford, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Sharon, State College, Swarthmore, West Chester and Wilkes Barre.
"So many people are participating today to show the need for change," Mancuso said. "It's been a rough road with this election, and this gave us an outlet to make our voices heard in a safe, productive way."
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