Statement on ICE
PFLAG San Francisco denounces the growing pattern of unjust ICE detentions that target marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQI+ immigrants.
At PFLAG San Francisco, we’ve been watching, along with the rest of the country, as people are snatched off the street by masked men. They are profiled for who they are and how they look and are disappeared into a system that detains and deports them without regard to their legal, and human, rights.
We know what it’s like to live in fear. We know what it’s like to walk down the street and be afraid – not just of strangers – but of the very systems that are supposed to protect us. For generations, LGBTQI+ people have lived with the fear of being harassed and punished simply for existing.
This week, that fear became reality for our community once again. Hilary Rivers, a beloved San Francisco drag performer and Latinx immigrant, was detained by ICE during a scheduled immigration appointment. His sudden disappearance has sparked fear and heartbreak among his loved ones, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
And so we say that we stand, unequivocally, in solidarity with the individuals and families being targeted by ICE and for the immediate release of Hilary Rivers. This is a statement about rights, due process and human dignity. We believe everyone on American soil has a right to each of these without exception. We’re already familiar with the rationales and excuses for denying rights to certain groups. They have no place in this country or in any civilized society.
At PFLAG SF we will continue to object to fear as policy. We will fight against the erosion of rights. And we will not stand by and consent to the silent normalization of cruelty under the guise of law enforcement.
None of us are safe until all of us are safe.
PFLAG SF
Learn more about how you can support the efforts to locate Hilary Rivers