Family and immigrant-rights activists are calling for a National Day of Action for Children on Friday to protest Trump administration policies that have resulted in parents and children being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Events are scheduled at noon around the country, including in downtown Seattle at the U.S. Attorney's Office, 700 Stewart Street, Suite 5220.
Plans are for peaceful rallies aimed at calling attention to the move, announced earlier this month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in which people crossing the border illegally will face criminal charges and be held in immigration jails. While they await court dates, their children, regardless of age, are sent to foster care. "If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally. It's not our fault that somebody does that," The Associated Press quoted Sessions as saying.
Activists have been outraged at the move, calling it inhumane toward children and citing instances of even infants being forcibly taken from parents.
A listing of events around the country, as well as a petition asking the Trump administration to change its policies, can be found at this website.
Primary sponsors are the National Domestic Workers Alliance, We Belong Together, ACLU, United We Dream, MomsRising, MoveOn and Women's Refugee Commission.
Activists are using the social-media hashtags #FamiliesBelongTogether and #WhereAreTheChildren.
