As a collective of abolitionists, we are confident that revolution will not be voted in and that our electoral system is inherently built to oppress the working class and people of color.
Our hope is not in this current political system.
But sometimes we can bend it in the people’s favor.
Philly Police allows ICE to access PARS (Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System), a database of police reports. Though these reports do not include individuals’ immigration status, it does include their country of birth.
For a so-called “sanctuary city,” this is beyond despicable.
For years Juntos, a community-led Latinx immigrant organization, have been leading the fight to #EndPARS, but recently due to the media coverage of the occupations and the upcoming date to renew this contract, this issue has been haunting City Hall and Mayor Kenney.
And it seems like he’s beginning to crack.
We encourage folx to continue to call Kenney’s office (215-686-2181) and let them know that this agreement needs to end.
You can also sign Juntos’ petition: Mayor Kenney: End the PARS/ICE Contract
We also encourage folx to explore creative ways of putting pressure on Philly’s Mayor and connecting this struggle to the wider abolitionist movement. Not only does the PARS agreement need to end, but the Berks County Detention Center need to be shut down and, of course, ICE as a whole needs to be abolished.
For more information:
Philly.com: In contentious back-and-forth, Philly officials say ICE ‘likely’ violates data-sharing agreement
Philly.com: Philly’s agreement with ICE: What it is and how Mayor Kenney can show moral clarity by ending it | Opinion
Juntos: Philadelphia Has Won Its Lawsuit Against Jeff Sessions.What Comes Next For Us?
Juntos: Shut Down Berks
