Harlem Activists React to Remaining Warehoused Children
By Salma Mones
Earlier this month, about 20 Harlem residents and activists gathered outside of the Cayuga Centers, a facility in East Harlem at 1916 Park Avenue, where undocumented children remain under their care. In early June, undocumented children separated from their families were warehoused at the facility without the knowledge of the De Blasio Administration.
Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy in April, activists and community members in Harlem, and all over the country, have joined together to stand up for undocumented children and immigrant families who were pulled apart at the southern border of the United States. Angelica, a Harlem resident who has requested to not disclose her last name, is puzzled by the situation and worries about the safety of the undocumented children. “I think it’s so inhumane, who is responsible for these children?” she says, “It’s insane, they’re ruining people’s lives.”
Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy separates children from their parents who illegally cross the border. Parents are prosecuted while children are placed in facilities or with sponsors and treated as an unaccompanied minor during their case. This has led to negative consequences where the American College of Physicians states that the psychological trauma that children endure, could lead to toxic stress. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, toxic stress can occur when a child experiences physical or emotional abuse. This can disrupt development of their brain and organ systems. It further increases the risk of cognitive impairment into the adult years. Symptoms include changes in behavior and body function such as trouble with sleeping and eating. Along with anxiety and issues with toiletry.
Angelica admitted that she was not aware of children being held at Cayuga Centers and doesn’t want other people to be uninformed as well, “I didn’t know about this, I just can’t believe it’s happening here,” she says.
She strongly opposes the Trump Administration and believes that people should exercise their voting rights. “People need to talk about this. We should all be informed because this is happening right under our noses,” she says. “Everyone should vote in the upcoming midterm election, we’re the only ones who can make a change for these families.”
Marni, a Harlem activist, who also requested to not disclose her last name, describes her disgust at the Trump Administration. “This country has a legacy when it comes to white supremacy. This is just another way of doing that,” she says. “These children shouldn’t have been separated from their families and placed into foster care.”
Marni reveals that she has witnessed the type of experience that these families face first hand. “My sister works with undocumented women and children in California,” she says. “The rate of deportation for her clients and threat has gone up and has created fear. This should not be tolerated. It’s a violation of human rights and a violation of what this country claims to stand for.”
A Harlem activist who refers to herself by the name of Aunt Shirley believes that the Trump Administration is enforcing the idea of white supremacy in America. “Chump [Trump] sucks; he didn’t even get the popular vote,” she says. “This did not just happen now, it happened way back then with this white supremacy crap.”
Aunt Shirley describes the past 2016 presidential as chaotic and the cause of the issues that are arising in 2018, “When it came to Hellary [Hillary] and Chump [Trump] nobody wanted either one of them, we had cancer on one side and HIV on the other,” she argues, “there’s so many sellouts.”
She advises people to unite and fight against those in favor of the corrupt system, “we need to come together, it’s not just about ICE, police brutality, or murder,” she says. “We need to support each other, we have to be out there, we’re the only ones who are aware.”
