Centro del Pueblo Sets an Empty Table to Highlight That for Many Immigrant Families They Are Separated From Loved Ones for Thanksgiving

A bare Thanksgiving day table setting represents community members detained by Customs and Immigration. [Photo by Ryan Hutson] 

A bare Thanksgiving day table setting represents community members detained by Customs and Immigration. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

As families gathered from coast to coast and border to border to celebrate what they’re thankful for amongst family and friends, a demonstration was held on Thanksgiving Day at the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka to call attention to what some see as a hypocrisy of the holiday – a celebration of sharing and thankfulness of immigrants to this country – in stark contrast to an immigration policy that continues to separate children and adults at the US border.  The courthouse rally was planned by local advocacy group Centro del Pueblo to support families of those who were not able to participate in the Thanksgiving Day festivities due to immigration detentions, and to highlight what they say are inadequacies in current immigration policy.  

An empty Thanksgiving dinner table sits waiting for family members to arrive in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse.

Calling attention to Humboldt County’s sanctuary law which provides some level of protection to undocumented community members, Centro del Pueblo volunteers staged a protest – putting a nearly bare dining table on display at the county courthouse to honor “those who aren’t able to celebrate Thanksgiving.”  

The press release from Centro del Pueblo (CDP)  read in part, “Everyday human beings are ripped from their families for the lack of documentation with no consideration of their hard work and contributions to this country. Every year children are left without parents. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents are snatched from our thanksgiving table. Let us be the voice for these families on this day and give thanks for those who have sacrificed their lives to migrate to our country in hopes of a better life.”

Speaking with one of the volunteers, they explained that it is important to keep the issue of immigration and the related political issues present in community dialogue, emphasizing the statement that “No one is illegal on stolen land,” referencing the local indigenous territory rights of the Wiott people and other local tribes. 

A volunteer with Centro del Pueblo explains why the demonstration is important to the community.

Among the volunteers present from Centro del Pueblo were advocates for efforts to reform immigration and customs enforcement policies, who called attention to Humboldt County‘s local sanctuary measure, passed in 2018 by voter referendum. They noted that, for example, the Humboldt County Sheriff is required to honor the sanctuary measure policies that prohibit ICE from intercepting undocumented arrestees upon release from jail. 

Karen, a volunteer with CDP who was on site at the rally explained why they were offering gift bags for legal observers.  Volunteers were available to discuss the particulars of Humboldt County‘s sanctuary status, which was highlighted as an important protection for undocumented community members locally. 

 

Volunteers from Centro del Pueblo were on hand outside the courthouse to talk to passersby and offer information regarding family separations at the border.

And gift bags for legal observers were available at the rally, and contained various items for safely documenting police interactions. The bags also contained canned food donations in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Gift bags for legal observers.

Gift bags for legal observers.

 

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Pharmstheproblem
Guest
Pharmstheproblem
2 years ago

Didn’t know foreigners celebrated American Thanksgiving?

Country Joe
Member
2 years ago

They’re thankful they’ll never have to work again in the land of benefits for anyone…

Runaround
Guest
Runaround
2 years ago

You are 100% correct ! My Peruvian girl friend bitched and cried because she undercooked the turkey this Thanksgiving. IT was really raw. No one could eat it. 2hrs. For a 15lbs. Bird /350 temp. She went on to say that Peruvians didn’t eat turkey. Haha..

Robash141
Guest
Robash141
2 years ago
Reply to  Runaround

[edit] why did you force the person who didn’t know anything about making turkey to make Thanksgiving dinner. Then hold her up for ridicule.

GentlemanJim
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Robash141

Because, of course, she wouldn’t want to willing participate and attempt something new.

Runaround
Guest
Runaround
2 years ago
Reply to  Robash141

It was a test. She passed the bedroom part but not the kitchen test. I we keep looking.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Runaround

Lord above I hope you are just trolling me…

Runaround
Guest
Runaround
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

She needs to get married or drop an anchor baby.
Time is not on her side.

She was trying to ran a game on me.

Kym Kemp
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Runaround

It does sound like someone “ran a game” on someone.

Baby Monster
Guest
Baby Monster
2 years ago

I had a Thanksgiving dinner with mostly foreigners in attendance. That was a bad idea. Very disrespectful. The cook was American, she was almost in tears.
I was not expecting that. It’s always been one of my favorite holidays.

Last edited 2 years ago
Brenda
Guest
Brenda
2 years ago

Excelente coverage Ryan!

R. Hutson
Guest
R. Hutson
2 years ago
Reply to  Brenda

Thank you, Brenda. I try to get out for a rally, especially on a holiday.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago

Were folks forced to come here against their will? If so, they should be free to go home.

Connie DobbsD
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

And encouraged to stay there. Even the Mexican Government thinks so.

Alf
Guest
Alf
2 years ago

Enable ICE should be what the sign says. Increase ICE raids until all illegals are gone. Come legally or stay wherever the hell you came from. Not welcome in my home, that’s for damn sure.

Country Joe
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Alf

That’s the law but [edit] Joe and democrats are ignoring it and putting the safety and security of our nation at risk…

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
2 years ago
Reply to  Alf

You do realize that unless you were an American Indian somewhere in your heritage there were immigrants that came to the United States. Don’t tell these people what to do if you haven’t walked a mile in their shoes.

Alf
Guest
Alf
2 years ago
Reply to  Akasha

Don’t you realize that even American Indians immigrated here from somewhere else. The whole idea that any race or culture we know about was here first is ignorant and idiotic. The United States is the current occupant of the land and is therefore in rule of said land, just like every other country who claims rule over their land. The world is a group of countries with their own cultures and laws. Nobody from a foreign country has the right to tell the country they are visiting how to rule. No noncitizen of the United States has the right to tell us what to do. Period. No ignorant rant of any kind can change the fact that people in our country illegally are lawbreakers and need to be held accountable. No illegal person will ever be accepted by me. Period. They need to go away. Anyone who votes to be a Sanctuary city or state had indeed committed treason and should also be held accountable.

JustWantToHearTheEndOfTheStory
Guest
JustWantToHearTheEndOfTheStory
2 years ago

Lack of documentation? How very woke of them. Try illegal. Breaking the law. Or is that too harsh?

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago

I would like to once again promote setting an empty table honoring all houseless American citizens. Caused by Illegal aliens bringing heroin, fentanyl and landing in liberal sanctuary cities. I would also like to promote an alternate gift bag idea labeled Illegal Border Crossing Do it yourself kit. Kit would contain zip ties, tasers, mace, field drug test, whistle, border patrol and ICE contacts, and even a rapid covid test since sleepy joe doesn’t have a mandate for illegals.

Root4America
Guest
Root4America
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest

THANK YOU.

There is a disturbing element to the priorities of the weaponized woke.

Baby Monster
Guest
Baby Monster
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest

YES!

Juanita
Guest
Juanita
2 years ago

The comments here are more disturbing than the hunger. I am ashamed of my fellow Americans.
(And can’t wait to see how this comment is vilified)

Country Joe
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Juanita

Don’t be ashamed of Americans trying to defend our southern border from an invasion…

Send Europeans back to Europe!
Guest
Send Europeans back to Europe!
2 years ago
Reply to  Country Joe

NO! Be ashamed of the white people’s invasion from Europe, Irag and Afghanistan. And yes the last two are white people.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  Juanita

Wait no longer… The cycle of Americanization of illegal immigration: 1) enter avoiding immigration check point because who cares what this filthy rich country without people willing to work wants, 2) buy stolen or fake ID to work cheaper than the natives and without benefits so that the business owners get richer by not paying high wages or providing good benefits,, 3) having listened to the endless litany of progressive citizens telling you that anyone who objects to any illegal immigrant is a racist- whether criminally running drugs, being gang members, working with fraudulent documentation, driving while avoiding having car insurance or licence or respecting the culture in which you have pushed your way into, 4) raise your children to be outaged that they are not instantly as rich as those who have spent generations hopefully accumulating something from the nothing most of their ancestors started with, instist that they are being unfairly treated while getting a college education as a poor, underrepresented group that was pretty much not in the country a generation ago and in the condemnation of all non- whereever-your-from as having stolen from yoor ancestors who never lived here while busy taking as much of that stolen property for yourself as can be had. Remember, if times get hard here, there is always the old country to go back to top the natives dig themselves out of the hole. At which point you are as American as anyone else.

Actually many of the illegal immigrants themselves are reasonable human beings. It takes a generation to learn how unfairly they have been treated.

Mega me
Guest
Mega me
2 years ago
Reply to  Nooo

Well god damn , auntie noooo coming with the straight fire !!!!
Woooooo!!!!! 😘

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  Mega me

Not really. I’m persistently practical. And try to be rational above all. That means avoiding the pitfalls of blindly accepting other people’s assessments whether of anti vaccination or of immigration ideology. It all stems from a deep held belief that almost no one is so much better than anyone else just because they say so. In fact the more they say they are, the more likely it is not to be true.

William Harmon
Guest
William Harmon
2 years ago
Reply to  Nooo

Inside you live 2 wolves, one is based, the other is red-pilled

You are Based and Red-Pilled!

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  William Harmon

What nonsense. I presumed you meant “biased”, not “based” but my comment did not have anything to do with race or any of the other conditions to which that word is usually applied. Immigrants have always been used for cheap labor.” That is always the tension between mass immigration, whether it was of Germans or Irish in the 1840s, the Chinese in the 1850s, the Eastern European News in the 1880s, the Cubans and other anti communists of the 1950s or the Latin Americans of the 1960s onward. On one side are the current Americans and on the other the current immigrants more desperate for work. And the common connection is the employer trying to keep wages down. Race or ethnic identity doesn’t matter to these employers as least as far as supplying the jobs- they go for cheap labor.

What has changed is the overwhelming abuse heaped on the very idea of being American. For most immigrants, being American was seen as a goal. But in the last few decades a particularly ugly self abuse by Anericans has grown out of all reason. The latest immigrants frequently ignore because they left much worse. But their offspring, fueled by the idiocy of the American education machine, has made sure that the children of these most recent immigrants are taught that every problem, no matter how small, can be blamed on America and not themselves. Apparently you have formed common cause with the idea that people inherit the sins of their parents while simultaneously dismissing the good they did. It comes from a singular set of blinders in which the evil in others is assumed while thinking the good is due to themselves. It’s stupid and self defeating to think that somehow you are above this. Surprise, suprise- you are not one whit better than anyone else. Your sainthood is only exists in your own mind because you lacked the capacity to inflict your evil on others. Or just the perspicacity to see that you are inflicting evil.

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Nooo

🤔🧐Watch it! Don’t be talkin’ about the News like that.😁

FrustratedClerk
Guest
FrustratedClerk
2 years ago
Reply to  Nooo

And just which natives are you speaking of? Because I’m pretty sure the natives of North America suffered a campaign of genocide.. and it sounds like you’re suggesting all the European descendants are the natives, but it’s really hard to parse your words.

Root4America
Guest
Root4America
2 years ago
Reply to  Juanita

The shame you feel for your felow American’s is just. Those are politicians who have been playing a dangerous game with our economy, and our sovereignty.

This piece is just a reminder we ignore our home grown issues and feel like we are responsible for the rest of the world. When our communities are being ignored.

If you have any extra room at your house, please make room for an illegal, and then pay them for helping out around the house, it’s your responsibility to make sure your foreign policy doesn’t affect your neighborhood.

IMG_9851.jpg
Send Europeans back to Europe!
Guest
Send Europeans back to Europe!
2 years ago
Reply to  Root4America

CORRECT………….. Most lazy homeless and drug addicts are white. Latinos come here to work. It’s the business owners who should be sent to Central America starting with Pinocchio Trump, Moscow McConnell, and Run to Mexico Ted Cruz.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago

Apparently you’d be wrong about that. But it’s a useful troll.
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-2021/

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
2 years ago
Reply to  Juanita

At least we’re American! I’m ashamed of the large scale invasion that’s being allowed to happen at our southern border. The Brandon Administration makes the US look very weak, that is something to be ashamed of. A rubber bullet, some pepper spray, and a kick in the ass right back over the border is all those illegals should get.

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
2 years ago

OMG….Have you ever even been on the other side of any border? You don’t seem to be aware that anybody coming from North America, Central America or South America are considered Americans. Your ignorance is glaringly obvious.

Gentleman Jim
Guest
Gentleman Jim
2 years ago
Reply to  Akasha

Are Canadians Americans?

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
2 years ago
Reply to  Juanita

I agree with you Juanita these people have obviously never been out of the United States. It’s amazing how they want to vilify the immigrants that come here but most of them would never want to do the work that the immigrants do. And if we had decent immigration work permits most of them would not stay up here but would go home when the work was done.

Guess
Guest
Guess
2 years ago

This doesn’t even make sense, it is a U.S. holiday, they would be with their loved ones if they didn’t come here illegally. Might as well set a table for all the people incarcerated for breaking the laws here as well.

GentlemanJim
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Guess

This one wins. People who break laws get penalized. Their families miss them. Why is this different?

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
2 years ago
Reply to  GentlemanJim

Just because it’s a law doesn’t mean that’s fair.

Gentleman Jim
Guest
Gentleman Jim
2 years ago
Reply to  Akasha

Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it is unfair.

Send Europeans back to Europe!
Guest
Send Europeans back to Europe!
2 years ago
Reply to  Guess

RIGHT, Starting with Donald Trump.

justsayin
Guest
justsayin
2 years ago

Probably an empty table sitting in the country they left waiting for them. They could always go back there and celebrate their countries holidays instead of being used as political pawns by people special interests here.

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
2 years ago
Reply to  justsayin

Most of the immigrants would love to freely go back-and-forth across the border back to their families and then come back up here to work all those jobs you lazy white people don’t want to do.

Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
Guest
Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
2 years ago

I move we reunite these families ripped asunder and return them to their home countries, effective immediately.

Baby Monster
Guest
Baby Monster
2 years ago

I believe Biden is reinstating Trumps remain in Mexico policy. So…

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Baby Monster

So…
Does that mean Cruz has to go back, too?

Baby Monster
Guest
Baby Monster
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Is he trying to cross the boader illegally?

namer
Guest
namer
2 years ago

Obviously, I didn’t read the article or the comments.

I’m just here to insert my projection and inflict my chronic negative affect (fused with bitter self-righteousness) into whatever anyone else might have bothered to think about.

Now I’ll go get hammered and come back to unleash some misdirected cliches upon anyone foolish enough to mock my plagiarized script.

If I’m not too embarrassed, I won’t change my handle.

The Real Brian
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  namer

That was a good comment.

namer
Guest
namer
2 years ago

Ok, I just played the video while trying to accomplish some household tasks.

I got dizzier hearing, “it’s super important to DOCUMENT these things,” and “a lot of ILLEGAL things tend to happen…(emphasis added.)”

I can’t keep up with when it’s not a party foul to say, “document” and “illegal.”

But, I’ll vote as many times as I can for shiny-wet long wavy black hair and velvet mini skirts. And believe whatever I’m told. And join dad’s army.

If you spot some invisible gringo traipsing around town with a red tote bag reading, “ILLEGAL OBSERVER,” that’s namer.

Many might prefer Goya over Progresso when it comes to cans. The latter puts in some funky additives. Shame about that. Such a promising (brand) name.

Last edited 2 years ago
BigRick
Guest
BigRick
2 years ago

If you dont like it here, go home then. 🤷

Oh wait their home countries dont give them free shit like usa does.

Why the hell are immigrants celebrating thanksgiving? Shouldnt they be protesting it? Or are the celebrating because they side with the europeans?

Whats going on here? This propaganda heart string pulling article is confusing.

You commies need to pick a side and stay with it.

Robash141
Guest
Robash141
2 years ago

Considering the whole point of Thanksgiving is pilgrims fleeing persecution being helped by natives of their new land, we have some disgustingly ungrateful [edit] commenting on this story .

Last edited 2 years ago
Connie DobbsD
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Robash141

Everyone you hate is white.

BigRick
Guest
BigRick
2 years ago
Reply to  Connie Dobbs

Jews arent white they come from the middle east.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  Robash141

Nice racist slur! What kind of folks throw those around?

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Trolls. Is there a race of trolls?

R David Franceschi
Guest
R David Franceschi
2 years ago

They shouldn’t have come in through the back door illegally!!!

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago

Really? You think unlimited entry by, let’s say, Russians would be a good thing? Or Afghanistan or Columbia? Or China? Myanmar? Any place with a sizable burden if oppression, corruption, crime or political warfare? You think that there wouldn’t be an opportunity to bring along oppression, corruption, crime and political warfare for evil intent? It would be interesting to hear how you would screen out opportunists who endanger the locals.

namer
Guest
namer
2 years ago

The tapestry art is totally dope, though. Can’t tell if it’s like tracing paper or maybe some sheer fabric.

Love the metal font “NO-BODY” in red, and the snail.

Bug on a Windshield
Guest
Bug on a Windshield
2 years ago
Reply to  namer

That is a nice blanket/tapestry. Peruvian I’m guessing. Although, I’ve always been partial to the slightly less colorful, more earth tone blankets from Mexico, Baja specifically. They’ve warmed my white full moon on many a starry moonless night.

Happy Thanksgiving, as in, giving a happy thanks, to all the friends I’ve made down there, from both sides of the border and beyond, but haven’t seen in over two decades. And, yes, they celebrate the day, at least the folks in frequent contact with Americans. Of course, they don’t celebrate the pilgrims. It’s more of a Thanksgiving like many Americans celebrate, the way I was taught and have celebrated for the past half+ century: giving thanks for what you have, food, friends and loved ones, shelter, so on.

BeWise
Guest
BeWise
2 years ago

So RHBB supports illegal immigration and will do a full write up about this group of people, yet won’t bother reporting on actual citizens and residents of Humboldt county who are trying to dialogue about medical freedom and government overreach.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  BeWise

Yet by sheer volume and persistence, anti vaxxers (freedom fighters like the Taliban are freedom fighters) outnumber everyone else in the comment section. Have you tried to submit your own “write up?” The only requirement is to use your real name. Yes, partisan reporting runs rampant but then that seems to be the agenda of almost everyone.

GentlemanJim
Member
2 years ago

Do those protesting the enforcement of immigration law get to appropriate the phrase “on stolen land”?

Root4America
Guest
Root4America
2 years ago
Reply to  GentlemanJim

I’ve got a deed trust. Nothing stolen. You are mixing up two very different ideas. Empire and conquest to the victims of expansion. History is written by the winners.
The government steals in our name and we get the blame.

Like motel 6, “we’ll leave the table set”

Gentleman Jim
Guest
Gentleman Jim
2 years ago
Reply to  Root4America

It was quote above. I was wondering when the “(something) appropriation” complaining would start.

namer
Guest
namer
2 years ago
Reply to  GentlemanJim

Maybe it means that after consulting the Wiyot, they decided Spain is allowed to move in, after all.

Last edited 2 years ago
Gentleman Jim
Guest
Gentleman Jim
2 years ago
Reply to  namer

I was wondering where Spanish Land Grants fall into this conversation. What happened to the Russian presence? Are there questions about that title as well?

Joshua WoodsD
Member
2 years ago

So they are crying about people not being able to ignore our federal immigration laws, enter illegally then for safety’s sake, separate children to make sure children aren’t being abused or anything before we release them into our communities to become a further burden on the free handouts system. Wow, WE really are monsters…..

Baby Monster
Guest
Baby Monster
2 years ago

United Nations Is Handing Out $800 Debit Cards to Illegal Migrant Families in Mexico Heading to US
thegatewaypundit.com/2021/11/united-nations-handing-800-debit-cards-illegal-migrant-families-mexico-heading-us/

In Reynosa, Mexico, at a migrant camp, Bensman witnessed the United Nations IOM handing out free debit cards to aspiring US border crossers.

twitter.com/BensmanTodd/status/1462088443878592526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1462088443878592526%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2021%2F11%2Funited-nations-handing-800-debit-cards-illegal-migrant-families-mexico-heading-us%2F

Last edited 2 years ago
crap
Guest
crap
2 years ago

This problem did not have to happen. Just come here legally or stay in your home nation. They break the law now they are the victims? Also it is an American holiday sooooooo……..

Akasha
Guest
Akasha
2 years ago
Reply to  crap

You’re pretty out of touch if you think it’s such an easy thing to come here legally.

Alf
Guest
Alf
2 years ago
Reply to  Akasha

It isn’t easy. It isn’t supposed to be easy. However, the illegals have made it so much harder for the honest people who want to come legally. If the agencies that operate the legal immigration system were able to spend their time working these cases instead of being overwhelmed by the dishonest people coming illegally, the system would work. Unfortunately, illegal immigrants have neither honesty or integrity. They must all go away.

GentlemanJim
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Akasha

I have friends who migrated her legally and obtained citizenship. Their feelings of the undocumented are less than favorable.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
2 years ago

If you leave a hellhole because of fear and lack of opportunity, it isn’t nice to try to turn the country you sneak into, into the hellhole you left.
First generation sneakers need to do a better job teaching their offspring why they left, and why they chose this country to come to.

Or go home and fix your own country.

To all legal immigrants….welcome, may your life here be blessed!
Many of you are great friends and good neighbors.

Last edited 2 years ago
GentlemanJim
Member
2 years ago

Language is so important. No body is illegal. Very True.

THEIR STATUS IS ILLEGAL.

Quit trying to soften it.