From the Glass Chrysalis

You’ve probably heard by now that President Trump and his Attorney General Jeff Sessions have decided to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Originally created by President Obama, the program provided hope and protection to nearly a million children of undocumented immigrants, many of whom have growing up knowing no other nation besides the United States of America.

In their hearts, in their lives, DREAMers are Americans. And they are human beings. The cruelty of deporting them to an unfamiliar land is matched only by the recklessness of doing so. Immigration is vital to our identity, our economy, and our culture. To extinguish the dreams of DREAMers is not only unkind, but fundamentally un-American.

So, Tumblr, here are some ways you can help each other out:

Call Congress and tell them to pass the DREAM Act. There’s a six-month delay before Trump’s order kicks in, and that’s six months for Congress to get their act together on this. Light a fire under them, will you?

Join an event near you, and connect with others IRL who are fighting for what’s right.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself, especially if you’re one of the people directly affected by this. You can’t just fight—you also have to heal.

Tell your story. Tag it #DREAMer. Let people know what you’ve experienced, and let other DREAMers know they’re not alone.

And if you could use some perspective on what it’s like for a DREAMer right now, please read this Answer Time session with an undocumented immigrant who took your questions on her situation, her hopes, and her fears. It’ll open your eyes, it’ll open your heart. It’s what the world needs right now.

Like you, we were sickened by the violence perpetrated by white supremacists against their fellow Americans this weekend, and alarmed by the rising tide of intolerance in the wake of last year’s election.

If you’re feeling helpless, we understand. These are scary times. But there’s plenty you can do to push back against this evil, and to support those who are threatened by it.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights will be organizing responses to these white supremacist demonstrations. You can be a part of that response.

Of course, there’s the larger issue of criminal justice reform in a system tilted against people of color. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is leading the charge there.

And then there’s the even larger issue of empowering the next generation of people of color. The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and Black Girls Code are doing excellent work, and you can help support it.  

Finally, there’s the humble social networking platform you’re using right now. Vital conversations about race and social justice are happening across Tumblr. They need your voice—and they need you to boost the voices of those who might not be heard. You have the power of the reblog. Use it.