Solidarity is Our Light in the Dark of Injustice

Bridgeport Sanctuary City Vigil Speech, 1/30/17

Good Evening y buenas noches.

My name is Susan Rubinsky. I was born in Bridgeport and I live Bridgeport. This is a copy of the 1930 census page [image is above] in which my grandfather’s residence in the United States is first recorded. He was 15 years old. His mother was an immigrant from Lithuania and came to the United States, came to Bridgeport, as many do, to seek a better life. A life of freedom and livelihood, free of persecution.

The recent acts by the executive branch of our government to ban people from the United States is an act of racism, bigotry, and xenophobia. It is also unconstitutional. Citizens of our country and legal refugees were turned away. Green card holders were turned away. People coming here to visit family were turned away. Business women and men were turned away. Doctors, students and children were turned away.

This city was built by immigrants. This state was built by immigrants. This country was built by immigrants. Our country’s founders were immigrants. “We the people” is us. It is our friends and neighbors. It is our community. It is our neighborhoods and street corners.

If we do not stand up in solidarity to resist the recent illegal actions of our executive branch, we are complicit in undermining our very own fundamental rights. It is already obvious that this administration is going to try to break us apart. We must not allow that to happen. Whatever your ethnicity, whatever your language, whatever your street corner, we must not allow ourselves to be divided.

There is a poet, Audre Lorde. She was a black, lesbian, feminist at a time when it wasn’t so convenient to be one.

It is probably never a convenient time to be one.

She sometimes held her tongue or did not stand up in the light to fight injustice. Then she found out she had a tumor. In a matter of weeks her whole world shifted. She found that if she was going to die her one regret was her silence.

“Your silence will not protect you.”

We are finding out right now, at this pivotal moment in history that we are not protected. Like Audre Lorde, we live in inconvenient times. When we close our door to our neighbors, to our citizens, to the world — when we are silent — we are helping tyrants gain power.

This is a time of great uncertainty but I take great solace in Audre Lorde’s voice. I am willing to stand up to share my voice and join my hands with you all to fight injustice. I urge everyone here to stand in solidarity for our inalienable rights.

Let us work together today and in the coming days to make Bridgeport a sanctuary city. A place where people may safely come to build neighborhoods and communities, friendships and families, businesses and homes. Let us build a coalition of people who will not allow the executive branch to destroy us. Solidarity is our light in the dark of injustice.

Blessings to you all.

Thank you y Gracias.