Good morning, friends!
Today is a high of 106 here in Tucson. 106. Fifty degrees hotter than the high in the Grand Canyon where we YAVs retreated to last weekend - it even sleeted on us for a few minutes. Pictures to come!
Summer is upon us, and the soundtrack to my thoughts is always this song: "Smooth" by Rob Thomas and Santana. Beyond the realization that I now sweat on my six-block walk to work because it's 80-something before 8:30am, it also hit me that schools finish earlier out here. I had to lead my last Zumba warmup at Ochoa Elementary's Monday morning assembly a couple weeks ago already and say goodbye to Ms. Cameron and her fifth-grade class I volunteered with on free Friday mornings, as well as to the amazing Ms. Tina who runs the show in the front office (and rocks the Monday assembly exercises the weeks when I couldn't do Zumba). Yesterday was my first day walking to work past the K-8 school, and the empty schoolgrounds were a pretty different dynamic than elementary and middle-schoolers playing sports and games and sometimes greeting me, complimenting my work attire, or asking me to get their ball that went out into the street.
The saddest part was missing my favorite adorable 70-something year-old crossing guard and exchanging either "Good morning" or "Buenos dias!" Gracias por sus sonrisas cada mañana, señor, y que tenga un buen verano! (Thank you for your smiles every morning, sir, and have a good summer!)
We in the cities will find a way to survive, to find swamp coolers or air conditioning or swimming pools. But please keep in mind all those without shelter, as well as all individuals considering migrating through Arizona's Sonoran desert with possibly only two out of the five-plus gallons of water vital to making it to Tucson.
The real reason for this post is that I have an action for you. If you haven't read it yet, Sanctuary Part Two is the latest news about how the Tucson community is confronting the Obama administration on its record numbers of deportations, especially with regard to non-violent incidents (such as traffic stops) that tear people away from their beloved families and communities. Southside Presbyterian Church responded to one deportation order of a beloved father and took the family in sanctuary, and two weeks later, there is still no word from the government. You can sign this petition to Homeland Security Chief Jeh Johnson that calls for Daniel's case to be closed: Tell the Obama Administration Close Daniel Neyoy Ruiz's Deportation Case.
This is just one tangible case we are facing here in Tucson, but 1,100 individuals are deported every day, traumatizing families and communities. If you feel called to support other individuals facing deportation and separation, check out the #NotOneMore campaign - you can either look at their website or sign up for their email list to stay on top of open cases asking for community support. Community voices and pressure from the people have been shown to work to get their community members released from detention and/or granted relief from deportation, so please add your voice and encourage others to do the same!
Peace and love,
Kathryn
