LYNN — Members of Lynn United for Change gathered in front of Boston City Hall on Monday, Aug. 18 to participate in a Youth Against Deportation protest.
The protest was organized by youth affiliated with Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE). It included 19 members from Lynn United for Change, as well as members from other relevant organizations such as Massachusetts Immigrant Refugee Advocacy Coalition and Unitarian Universalist Mass Action.
Lynn United for Change Executive Director Isaac Simon Hodes detailed the overall message of the march, and the significance of having it be led by Massachusetts youth.
“This is to give young people a chance to lead a protest against all the attacks on immigrants. Young people in Lynn, and across Massachusetts, and across the country, are being so terribly harmed by the attacks on the immigrant community and our community in general,” he said.
“People are being forced to live in fear. People are being forced to see their parents and friends deported unjustly. We all know it’s not right, and we want to support the voice of young people who are speaking out against what’s going on. Young people across Massachusetts are demanding an end to ICE attacks on immigrant communities (and) protection for residents to keep families together,” Hodes said.
The rally began at the downtown government center and ended at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building. Participants repeatedly chanted the phrase “money for schools and education, not for ICE and deportation” during their demonstration.
NUBE Youth Member Alexander Flores explained why he chose to participate in the protest.
“As a young person, I want to send a national and international message: We young people are against deportations — against the kidnappings of our community. We want dignity, not deportations. Our parents are looking for a better life for us. We don’t want to live in fear, we want to feel free as human beings,” he said.
