With sweeping ICE arrests taking place, some Black residents worry the color of their skin could make them susceptible, and they’re taking steps to prevent negative encounters.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants is fueling conversations around the country about law enforcement tactics and the rights of immigrants and those accused of violating laws. It has also stirred a conversation in Black communities, where organizers say it’s a reminder that they have long been targets of aggressive policing. From member station GBH, Paul Singer has the story of a Boston-based effort to remind Black people of their rights when confronted by law enforcement.
(SOUNDBITE OF DOOR SLAMMING)
PAUL SINGER, BYLINE: Ron Bell walks into a bookstore in a mostly Black neighborhood in Boston.
RON BELL: I got something for you.
SINGER: Bell runs a grassroots organization called Dunk the Vote, focusing on voting rights and civic engagement. But as social media fills with videos showing federal agents arresting immigrants off the streets, he wants Black communities to remember that they are at risk as well.
BELL: I got some complimentary copies of the know-your-rights guide.
SINGER: Since February, he’s been handing out passport-sized guides called “The Black Book” in churches, barbershops and restaurants.
BELL
