To the Editor,
When we were protesting in Chandler Park a gentleman approached us and asked if we were paid for protesting. I told him no. Then he asked why we were protesting. I told him that I am very unhappy with our government policies and I want the world to know how I feel. Then I shared the following reasons.
Every person who comes to the United States for a safe and productive life should have opportunities to become a U.S. citizen. It makes me very sad that asylum status was taken away from people who left countries where they feared for their lives. People from Haiti lost asylum status overnight. Haiti is a country that was impacted by two hurricanes, an earthquake, a collapsed government, and is controlled by rival gangs. The Afghan refugees who risked their lives to help U.S. soldiers and support U.S. policy also lost asylum overnight. They are forced to return to Afghanistan where the government they fought against is in power. People from Cameroon, Venezuela, Nepal, Nicaragua and Honduras are experiencing similar futures.
Everyone is entitled to the health care they need. Poor health in the U.S. and throughout the world impacts all of us which means prevention and treatment are everyone's responsibility. The U.S. recently took that away from developing and underdeveloped countries and seems to be taking it away from us by resisting science-based care.
Of course, people need healthy food and clean water. Greed and war are the primary barriers. The U.S. and our partners could provide the food, water and support technology to eliminate hunger and starvation. The U.S. recently stopped helping.
Everyone deserves a safe place to live. We all need shelter from the weather. We all need to be safe and free of fear. We cannot accept veterans' homelessness. We cannot accept homelessness for people with disabilities. We cannot accept homelessness for people who are less fortunate.
These are only some of the reasons to protest. We have another protest rally this Saturday, August 23, at Chandler Park from noon-1 p.m., and 'Democracy Thursday' protesters are at the northwest corner of Chandler Park from 4-6 p.m. every Thursday. Join us whenever you can to share the fellowship and let the world know how you feel.
With thanks and compassion, Ross Braun Macomb, IL
