CONTACT: Sam Yu | syu@naksec.org
#Journey2Justice Dream Riders host forum with faith community in Tacoma, rally with community members in Olympia for #Citizenship4All!
Olympia, WA – On August 1st, 2018, NAKASEC & Affiliates launched our Journey to Justice Bike Tour as part of our national Citizenship For All campaign. Our courageous young “Dream Riders,” made up of undocumented youth and allies, are biking from border to border from Seattle to San Diego to share their immigration stories, register voters, and engage with local communities on the importance of fighting for citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and intercountry adoptees.
Following our launch event in Seattle, our “Dream Riders” traveled to Tacoma, WA to host a community forum with faith leaders on the impetus of the Journey to Justice Bike Tour as well as our Citizenship for All campaign.
Esther, “Dream Rider” and NAKASEC immigrant rights fellow, expressed:
“Language like ‘Dreamers came here through no fault of their own’ directly vilifies my parents who deserve a pathway to citizenship too and only want to provide a healthier life for me and our family… that is why we are fighting for citizenship for all. No one deserves to be left, so we are demanding a pathway for 35,000 intercountry adoptees, Temporary Protected Status holders, families of DACA recipients, all non-citizens!”
After the forum, our young people biked to Olympia, WA for a rally event with members of the First Christian Church of Olympia where our impacted “Dream Riders” shared their reasons for joining our 37 day, 1,700 plus mile journey.
Madison, “Dream Rider” and educator, shared with the community:
“I work with many low-income, undocumented students and they have confided in me that they are scared to come to school, a supposedly safe space, out of fear of ICE or deportation. Hearing my students’ stories really catalyzed my involvement with the Journey to Justice Bike Tour. Sharing stories of impacted immigrants is a big part of this campaign and these stories have the power to change hearts and minds, so I’m here to ride for my undocumented students and to share their story.”
After Olympia, our Dream Riders will be heading to Portland for more events with local immigrant communities and allies and will continue riding down the West Coast to raise even more awareness for citizenship for all.
For updates on our campaign and its progress, visit us at http://www.godreamriders.org.
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