This is crossposted at
Detention the blog.
Just want to send a quick update to folks on what's been going on:
The group of advocates that I'm in touch with have been strategizing about how to effectively free A. and T., pursuing the fundraising work for both families and other forms of support for T's family, and putting together some strategies for bringing different people together who are interested in working on this situation. There have been some more inroads in getting in touch with community supporters of A.'s family, which I'll hopefully be able to detail later.
In addition, aside from us, a number of other sets of people are working on these issues. Some friends of T.'s set up an initial effort to help out. There are people in the Guinean community that have been active around A.'s case. There was a meeting in the Bangladeshi community (to which we sent a rep to try and form some bridges). A local Pakistani social-service organization has reportedly helped out T.'s family some and called for a meeting. And finally, there's a Muslim organization outside our grouping that's calling for a demonstration in New York on Sunday morning and doing some other work as well. You should check them out through their website, and, if you're interested in helping out, contact them directly at (718) 594-7237. There was a meeting today (Wednesday) and there will be another one tomorrow (Thursday).
Please note that this isn't an endorsement of any of these efforts (most of which I know next to nothing about)--I just wanted to let you all know that there's a lot happening, orchestrated by a lot of different people from a lot of different communities; this issue is not going away.
There is also this performance/fundraiser (we still need much help in raising the thousands of dollars that these two families already need):
Thursday, April 21st, 2005
6-9 PM
The South Asian Students Association & Pakistani Club
of Queens College of the City University of New York
are proud to present
We've Come Undone
Written & Performed by Kayhan Irani
A series of moving monologues inspired by stories from the Arab
American, Muslim and South Asian communities.
From a young girls' bewilderment at her father's disappearance, to
an INS agent's rant and a Sikh woman's humourous conversation with
an arsonist, the characters' truths aim to enlighten, activate and
inspire.
Interweaving drama, dance, music and multimedia, this poignant
multidisciplinary piece explores the impact of recent legislation on
several communities in the US that are experiencing the trauma of
detention, disappearance and deportation.
Thursday, April 21st, 2005
6-9 PM
Student Union Ballroom - 4th floor
Free admission! Donations will be collected for the Emergency Family Fund.
Please bring as many people as you wish, and help spread the word!
There's more...click belowSouth Asian cuisine will be served at the conclusion of the performance!!!
Directions and a map of the campus can be accessed via this webpage:
Queens College is located at the corner of the Long Island Expressway and Kissena Blvd. (Exit 24) in Flushing.
The address is 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY 11367.