By Cynthia Hart
“The surest way to protect our Constitution is to act like we still have one. The surest way to lose it is to act like we don’t.”
Thomas Wolf, Brennan Center for Justice
As of this writing, the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution are still on the books. You still have rights as a protester, an immigrant, a community bystander, or traveler coming home from your dream vacation abroad.
Your Rights as a Protester:
Follow this link to get a quick review of your rights to protest. Hint: Be calm and memorize this phrase: “Am I free to leave?”
Your Rights as an Immigrant:
The ACLU reminds us that people who are not citizens have rights too. Follow this link to review your rights if ICE knocks on your door.
The Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) offers red cards (tarjetas rojas) that summarize immigrants rights in a wallet size form for download in 39 different languages. Click here to get yours:
The ILRC recommends that families have a preparedness plan. Click here to find their step-by-step toolkit for making your Family Preparedness Plan:
Your Rights as a U.S. Citizen Arriving at the Airport:
You have just arrived at LAX, and all you want to do is get home and recover from your jet lag. But wait, some guy from U.S. Customs and Border Protection is telling you to follow the green line to the detention area. (This just happened to former Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s former chief of staff.) Click here to learn about your rights
Your Rights as a Community Bystander:
You see people being snatched, and your heart goes out to them. You have rights. Of course, you can’t impede (e.g. interfere, stand in the way, touch the masked men), but you still have your First Amendment right to document. Public Radio Station LAIST reached out to Peter Eliasberg of the ACLU of Southern California and to Witness.org to find out how to do that safely and effectively.
Eliasberg indicates you generally have the right to capture images, to ask the agents to identify themselves, to remind the detainee of their rights and to ask them questions. Click here to get the specifics.
How to Help!
Parents from La Ballona Elementary have joined forces with the West LA Rapid Response Team to raise funds for families impacted by the recent immigration raids. Please consider making a one-time or recurring donation through the Culver City Presbyterian Church. All donations will go directly toward providing food and other emergency assistance for families. Give here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YQ0M/campaign/C-15KX4
The West Los Respuesta Rapida (Rapid Response) West LA Hotline asks you to call them at (310) 513 5539 to report suspicious activity or direct message on Instagram @westla.rrn!