Enough with the Politics! Children Need Us!

By now you’ve probably seen the pictures, a father and his daughter were recently photographed face down, drowned in a river on the southern U.S. Border. This is an unimaginable, indescribable tragedy for any family, under any circumstances. But we must face up to the hard truth that the human tragedy on our border is being lived daily by thousands of families. Many of them are learning first-hand the horror of parents and children being ripped apart from each other, some never to be reunited.

This isn’t about politics. This isn’t about what is or is not the right immigration policy. This is about the irreparable, unconscionable harm that we as a nation are subjecting children to. 

Every day in America about 2,000 children are crowded together on concrete floors, with only aluminium foil blankets to comfort them. They have been stripped away from their parents and despite being in the care of the United States they are denied a basic standard of hygiene, decency, and care. These children are enduring conditions we would never let our own children suffer through — under any circumstances.

We must value children. We must value families. We must value our own sense of humanity — and reckon forcefully with the reality of children needlessly suffering under our watch.

Arkansas is calling on U.S. Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman, as well as U.S. Representatives Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack, and Bruce Westerman to live their faith, and to protect children in our care who are in harms way. This is a time for leadership. This is not a time for political cowardice. This is not a time for an abdication of moral responsibility.

Arkansas needs leaders who will fight for our values, who will fight for children. The suffering of children detained  because of the immigration debate is unacceptable and can not continue. Arkansas is ready to embrace real leadership, thousands of children in this country simply can not wait any longer.

The United States of America is the best nation in the history of the world — and we will rise to reclaim our integrity and dignity. The stakes are too high to ignore, children’s lives are simply too precious.

Find out more about conditions children are living through — including being punished for losing a lice comb that multiple children were being forced to share >>>

America is a strong enough nation to provide soap to children in our care. America is a strong enough nation to provide toothbrushes to children in our car. And America is a strong enough nation to not fear children. We are strong enough to live our values and to show our love and our support for children.

It’s time for Arkansans to demand leadership from our Congressmen — and to elect leaders who aren’t afraid to stand up for children in harm’s way.