Volunteers training to support immigrants during Operation Charlotte’s Web
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Β People packed Amity Presbyterian Church Tuesday evening learning how to support immigrants during the federal immigration crackdown.
βThey’re snatching them from their jobs,β Michelle McConnell, Mallard Creek Resident said. βThey’re snatching them from they’re trying to get groceries, it’s wrong, we have to do something.β
Siembra organized the Safe at Work, Safe at School training months ago to teach people to document and deescalate interactions with immigration officials, organizers kicked the training into overdrive because of Operation Charlotteβs Web.
βThere’s a training every night up until Thanksgiving, and like this one is over 500 people had reserved tomorrow night. There’s the same kind of numbers,β Joel Simpson United Methodist Pastor said. βIt shows we know what our community needs and weβre a community that is welcoming and caring for immigrants. We want immigrants here and weβre doing the work to support them and care for them.β
Border Patrol claims around 20% of the 200 people it has arrested so far have criminal records. Some interactions are drawing criticism from the community prompting volunteers to mobilize.
βWeβre not doing anything to escalate violence,β Simpson said. βWe want to make sure the communities that we are protecting and caring for stay protected and cared for.β
At least two people have been arrested for interfering with the Border Patrol, but some say its worth the risk.
βEventually they’re going to have to let me go right as part of my privilege,β McConnell said. βIn history, people had to stand up and they had to not be afraid and I feel like we’re there right now.β
Hundreds of volunteers will be ready to roll at vulnerable locations in shifts where they will record arrests and warn others of activity.
βIf we can learn get our vests and our whistles, we can, you know, do something we don’t want to be in the way. We want to be helpful so weβre here to do that,β McConnell said.
