But amid the despair and brutality, there is another important narrative: on the front lines, a community coming together to push back against ICE and support their neighbours. And it should surprise no one that much of this work is being led by women. They come from all backgrounds and walks of life—immigrant women, mothers, teachers, healers, Black and Brown women, queer and trans women, grandmothers, young girls, women of faith, women who are simply fed up—to get involved, organise, support, nurture, fight, love, protect, and contribute in whatever ways they can.
“Women play an instrumental role in every movement,” says Christine Harb, DO, a physician who’s part of a network of health care providers meeting patient needs while they shelter in place. “The vast majority of the people I work with are women and queer people. Folks are raising rent-relief funds for families, delivering groceries, giving folks rides to their appointments, driving their neighbours and colleagues to work and back, protesting, patrolling, contacting state representatives in the hopes that they will listen—the list goes on and on.”