We just organized a GoFundMe where more than 45 cities
across the United States--
it's called Writer's for Migrant Justice.
And we have-- it's still open, so you can still donate--
and we have raised I think, close to $35,000
for immigrant families, together.
But again I haven't been here, and north of here,
there are about there are three detention centers,
like 35 minutes away.
You are surrounded by detention centers north of you,
and below you, you're surrounded by a fence.
And it's-- and I'm only here visiting,
and it would be very strange.
And I would love to hear what it is
like to live with that reality, which I'm
sure you put in the back of your head,
and you don't really think about.
But I went and drove around in these detention centers
and it was strange to see, because I've
seen the pictures of people walking in to see them.
I parked the car, and they were as far away as you,
and there were three fences in between.
And then I went to a--
fuck, I forget the name of that other city--
Florence, and I've never seen so many fucking jails,
back to back to back.
And one of the jails was a county--
or not a county, but a state jail, and the inmates
were closer to only one fence, and you can drive by them.
But the immigrants, who are not really criminals,
they have like three fences in between.
So it's just fucked up.
And I'm going to ask, if you can, if you can go on GoFundMe,
there's this immigrant who is detained at Eloy--
and her name is Zuleima with a Z.
And all we're asking for is $8,000, so she can be released.
And you can look for keyword Zuleima with a Z--
Z U L E I M A, Z U L E I M A--
she's a Cuban immigrant who was fleeing
because the government thought that she was an organizer,
and so she came here thinking that she
could apply for refugee status.
And right now the GoFundMe is at $1,000 at lunch
this morning, so all we're asking is for $8,000
to post her bail.
And once that money--
if the bail does get accepted, that money is going to go back
and then we can use it to help another immigrant post bail.
So again, Z U L E I M A. You can also look for-- and then
come after me, if you can't find it.
OK?
Thank you.
And I'm going to read one more poem.
If I find it--
and you have to forgive me if I'm being preachy,
but I rarely get to come here, and I cross through here.
And this is called, "Detention Centers, USA,"
and all you have to know-- if you remember in 2006,
the biggest marches organized since the Civil Rights Movement
were organized by immigrants.
And that happened in 2006, and SSN is social security number.
"Detention Centers, USA"
"The creosote are dying because still no one does anything.
The few sobs that escaped through the cracks
of the windowless walls soon melt. Inside, sobs
look like ice because it's cold in there.
God-- whatever politics, wherever you are--
we know you can't see everything,
but did you remember to store the children's favorite toys
in the right place?
The light of their shoes kept in boxes, the rips of their shirts
in the garbage.
From up there the grackles shout, "creosotes are dying"
but all we can tell ourselves is--
someone else must be doing something.
The ones who always rebuild after hurricanes
and are named "ayuda extranjeria," the ones who
doubt absolutely everything-- you'll have to understand,
we don't got real social security numbers.
The ones who marched millions deep in 2006--
in news, the alleged kings and queens
of bringing crimes, drugs--
the very best bullshitters, the only ones who answer to--
can you fill my shift?
The ones who never tell strangers where they actually
come from, the six-day work day Sunday drinkers,
the living room renters, the I'll return once I save enough.
The 5:00 AM will wait on sidewalk for work workers,
the we can eat anything, the we can do anything,
the we can sell anything.
The first to empty out their pockets, the Guanacos,
Catrachos, Chapines, hijos de la gran puta,
the ones who couldn't make it, the ones
who made it and can't move on.
The happy-- most happiest of the world, my undocumented family,
my eternal jokesters, my home."
[APPLAUSE]