Hi Reader,

I write to you most Tuesdays, but I didn't plan to send an email today.

My plan was to spend the day editing a new U.S. history resource I plan to release soon.

But then I saw the faces looking out the window of the 3rd floor of immigration court.

Activist friends had sent out the call for folks to rally outside immigration court this morning, calling for an end to ICE raids and surprise deportations happening when people followed the rules and showed up for their court dates.

I've been an activist for more than 25 years now, and I've never been so discouraged about whether my actions can have any meaningful impact on any of the terrible things happening now.

But I decided to show up today because I wanted any immigrant who took the huge risk of showing up to know this: We love you. We stand with you. There are citizens of this country who will not stay silent.

The crowd today wasn't huge. Maybe 100 to 125 people. Will this particular rally have a significant impact on ICE's reign of terror?

Probably not. After all, the horrific bill Congress passed last week increased ICE's budget by 265 percent.

But as I listened to three brave, passionate young people share stories of their friends and family members being imprisoned simply for being immigrants, I knew it was important to be there.

I hoped they could feel the love pouring out of all of our hearts as their own hearts were breaking for the people they love.

And then I looked up into the immigration building and saw a small group of children and mothers looking down at us from the third floor. We waved. They waved. They placed little handwritten signs in the window that mirrored the messages of our signs below.

I thought of all the mothers might be feeling as they waited for their immigration appointments, all the uncertainty and anger and fear. Did the children know what could happen in that building?

I showed up today not because it was strategic. I showed up today because I need to show my love. I needed to practice it so I wouldn't lose my ability to love.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Maybe you're also deeply discouraged about whether change is still possible.

If that's the case, I encourage you to keep looking for your reason to show up to that event, to make that phone call, to send that donation. Continue searching, and I promise you'll find it.

With love,

Rebekah

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Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza |

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