Heed The Call To Act

A U.S. citizen born in Georgia has been arrested for entering Georgia as an “unauthorized alien.” During a hearing in Leon County, his mother presented his birth certificate and Social Security card, but the judge said she had no authority to release him. Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez will remain in jail.

A doctor born in the United States says she received an email from federal immigration authorities demanding that she leave the country immediately. Lisa Anderson, a physician from Cromwell, Connecticut, told NBC Connecticut on Wednesday that she recently received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security telling her, “It is time for you to leave the United States.” Immigration authorities have been pushing noncitizens to leave of their own volition, or “self-deport,” as the number of deportations remains at similar levels to last year. But Anderson, 58, was born in Pennsylvania and is a U.S. citizen.

 What started as a routine school day ended in chaos and fear for the family of 16-year-old Leyla Yildiz, a high school junior detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on her way to class in the early morning hours of March 28.

Leyla, a Turkish national who has lived in the U.S. with her family for over seven years, was walking to her charter school in the Roxbury neighborhood when she was stopped by plainclothes agents in an unmarked vehicle. Witnesses say the agents exited the car quickly, blocked her path, and instructed her to remain still. Within minutes, she was handcuffed, placed in the vehicle, and driven away, leaving behind her backpack and a stunned community.

“She didn’t resist. She didn’t understand what was happening,” said one of her classmates, who witnessed the scene while waiting at a nearby bus stop. “One second she was on the sidewalk, and the next she was gone.”

We are at the point where none of us can dare to think, “That will never happen here,” or “That could never happen to me.” The frightening truth is that it is happening here, and it can happen to any one of us at any time.

Look at what we are confronting. We are witnessing events that shake the very foundations of our republic. A direct challenge to the authority of our highest court goes unanswered by Congress. At the same time, we hear stories that chill us to the bone – American citizens, like Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez born right here in Georgia, or Dr. Lisa Anderson born in Pennsylvania, and 16-year-old Leyla Yildiz, a high school junior, allegedly being targeted for detention or deportation by the very agencies meant to operate within the bounds of law.

It’s okay to feel angry. It’s okay to feel alarmed. It might even be tempting to feel helpless, to believe that with formal checks seemingly paralyzed, there is nothing left to be done. But that feeling of powerlessness is a luxury we cannot afford, and it is an illusion we must reject. The power in a democracy ultimately resides with the people, and there are crucial, non-violent actions we must take when the system itself is under duress. This is not about partisan politics; it’s about the fundamental principles of the rule of law, the sanctity of citizenship, and basic justice.

So, what do we do? We do not meet lawlessness with lawlessness, nor answer potential abuses of power with violence. Instead, we harness our frustration into focused, persistent, civic action.

First, we must bear witness and refuse to normalize the unacceptable. Document everything. Share the stories of Mr. Lopez Gomez, Leyla Yildiz, and Dr. Anderson widely, responsibly, and accurately. Use social media, talk to your neighbors, and write to local news outlets. Ensure these are not just fleeting headlines but symbols of a system failing its citizens. Light disinfects, and public awareness is a powerful disinfectant against abuses of power.

Second, we must demand accountability from all levels of government, relentlessly. Flood the phone lines, email inboxes, and town halls of your Congressional representatives and Senators – yes, even those who seem unresponsive. Demand they uphold their oath to the Constitution, not just allegiance to a party or person. Ask them specifically: What are they doing to investigate these citizen detentions? What is their stance on the President defying the Supreme Court? Make it impossible for them to ignore that their constituents are watching and demanding answers. Their inaction has consequences, and they need to feel the pressure of that.

Third, empower those on the front lines. Support the legal aid societies, the immigrant rights organizations, the ACLU, and other civil liberties groups who are fighting these battles in court and providing direct assistance. Donate if you can, volunteer your time if possible, and amplify their calls for action. They have the expertise to challenge these actions legally and systematically. Your support gives them the resources to keep fighting.

Fourth, build community resilience. Organize or join local rapid response networks to document ICE activity legally and safely. Support know-your-rights trainings. Offer aid and solidarity to families affected by unjust enforcement actions within our own communities. Strong, informed, and supportive communities are harder to intimidate.

Fifth, make your presence felt peacefully. Organize and participate in peaceful public demonstrations such as the hundreds happening tomorrow. Let the focus be clear: upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens’ rights, and demanding that constitutional checks and balances be respected. Visible, peaceful public pressure is a cornerstone of democratic resistance.

Sixth, if you can, take a first aid course and carry an appropriate kit with you at all times. Start with the course first, because without training, the kit is useless. We never know when or where some action might go down, and because they’ve all been relatively peaceful so far, that can end at any moment. We especially recommend a CPR course in addition to basic first aid. Cardiac and breathing issues, especially among older people, are not uncommon in crowded conditions. Our Staff is Red Cross certified.

This is how we reclaim our power. It’s not through violence, but through unwavering vigilance, persistent communication, community solidarity, support for legal challenges, and the bright light of public scrutiny. It requires patience and determination. It requires us to channel our anger not into destructive acts, but into the constructive, demanding work of citizenship. Let our demand for justice, accountability, and the rule of law be persistent, peaceful, and undeniable. This is our responsibility, and this is where our power truly lies.

We need you in this fight. Justice cannot magically return all on its own. We have to fight from every reasonable angle, making our presence known, and be firm about standing up to the fascist state attempting to imprison us.