I’ve been horrified, heartbroken, and frightened by the campaign of terror that is going on in Minneapolis and throughout our entire country right now.
As a mother, a perinatal and pediatric chiropractor, and a human being, I am particularly disturbed by stories from healthcare workers describing pregnant women missing prenatal appointments, running out of food, and miscarrying their babies because they are too scared to leave their home for essential care and supplies. Reports of infants and children being attacked with tear gas, traumatized and detained. And this story of one girl getting her very first period, but too scared to leave her home to go to school, let alone to go buy menstrual hygiene products for herself.
These stories share hope too, describing people in communities nation wide who are stepping up, literally risking their lives to help our most vulnerable, by physically standing up to ICE agents, filming their blatant misconduct, caring for other’s children, offering in-home prenatal visits, arranging car services to pick up patients, and bringing that young girl her very first menstrual pad.
These stories are overwhelming and while it is understandable to want to protect ourselves and disengage, we cannot turn away. I am reminded of a poignant quote from Rabbi Tarphon, who lived almost two thousand years ago, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
It’s not on us each alone to take this on, but it is on each of us.
How can we protect our most vulnerable, our asylum seekers, our new and expecting mothers and fathers, our babies and children, our ICU nurses, our collective humanity? How can we help?
We can and must call, email, financially support, and share these stories widely. We can and must educate ourselves on our rights and responsibilities, talk with our neighbors, school administrators, and local leaders now to be prepared to protect our own local communities. We must not look away.
In the face of this unimaginable cruelty and violence, our collective voices and actions are powerful and they matter. Let’s make sure they are heard.
In solidarity,
Dr. Lizzie