I spent my lunch hour one recent day in front of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal’s office building in Springfield at a press conference organized by Indivisible and Progressive CD-1 Coalition.
I wanted to hear from Neal, as well as from his competitor, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, about whether they were willing to pledge to allocate no more funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
Morse came and spoke forcefully about his commitment to not give more resources to these arms of the U.S. government that are breaking apart families in our communities, at the border, and in detention centers across the country.
Richard Neal neither came nor sent a staff member from his office, nor sent a public statement. I have personally tried to call Neal’s office repeatedly over the past month to try to meet with him about issues of immigration justice, and my phone calls have never been returned.
A group of us recently traveled from the Valley to Florida to witness and protest at the Homestead Child Detention Center, where 3,000 children were being held behind barbed wire. Upon our return, we felt it was incumbent upon us to share what we saw with our elected officials, our communities and the media.
Of our state and federal elected officials, the only one who has refused to meet with us (which is all we can infer from the fact that no one returns our calls) is Neal. I understand from others who have lived in this district for much longer than I have that he refuses to hold town meetings or to come to forums to which he is invited.
At this point, it is clear to me: If it is indeed still true that we live in a representative democracy, then we need someone in Congress who represents the interests and concerns of their constituents.
I encourage all Gazette readers to learn all they can about Morse and to strongly consider electing a representative who will meet with us, listen to us, work with us and represent us in Congress.
Alice Levine
Easthampton