At the Detroit Justice Center, we, like many of you, have been having numerous conversations about navigating this presidential administration, especially in light of the recent executive orders. We are anxious and angry, and we’re sure many of you are as well; however, we’re also dedicating ourselves to our values and re-committing to building racial and economic equity regardless of the obstacles thrown in our path. Immigrants, trans people, and people with low income are being singled out and targeted, while countless more are experiencing emotional whiplash from the chaos of federal funds being frozen. We know that this administration intends to divide any opposition and keep those they are targeting in fear. The goal is to overwhelm us so that we burn out quickly, and we at DJC refuse to take the bait.
While our local leaders insist that Detroit is not a sanctuary city and have pledged to support ICE, we are fighting to make Detroit a just city, the kind of city that serves as a model to others. Our vision for just cities is rooted in our values: liberation, innovation, collaboration, and empowerment. We seek an end to all oppression for ourselves and our communities, and we dream of a future where no one has to fear incarceration or displacement because they don’t have documentation. We work alongside people and communities, using our legal expertise to assist and defend where possible, and we encourage others to do the same by democratizing access to the law. Currently, we are devoting our time to compiling resources for anyone who might need them and organizing with like-minded partners to combine efforts and multiply our effectiveness against these policies.
We know that these are only the very early stages of this new regime, and we’ve only seen a sliver of what they intend to enact. From the unconstitutional order to end birthright citizenship to the violence of reassigning incarcerated trans women to men’s prisons, we can see this administration’s priorities very clearly. Not only do they wish to roll back any and all progress, but they also seek to erode the bedrock of what makes our pluralistic democracy possible. As we’ve learned from previous administrations, these policies will far outlive this presidency. We’re committed to using our knowledge of the law to push back against these heinous policies so that they don’t take root and become intractable. We believe that we are all co-creators of the world that we want to build, and we cannot allow any disenfranchised or marginalized people to face the future alone.
We invite you to join us in building collective power toward collective liberation. In our most recent newsletter we shared ten suggestions from our Executive Director, Nancy A. Parker, on how to take direct action. We know that our shared freedom is reliant upon a diversity of tactics. From establishing mutual aid networks to calling your local legislators, there is much to be done at all levels. While we always encourage those who can to support DJC’s work, one way you can act right now is to share resources for folks who are directly affected by these executive orders. We’ve compiled a list on our website that we will be updating regularly, please share it amongst your networks.
In a just city, every resident is entitled to universal basic income, healthy food options, safe and affordable housing, accessible transit, and, among other things, the right to live without fear of incarceration. In a just world, every person’s life is valued equally, and we no longer need to fight for our liberation generation after generation. Until we’ve reached a place where both of these are a reality, we know our work is not done. In the meantime, we take solace in the fact that we have each other, and we will always devote ourselves to protecting the most vulnerable amongst us.