A NEW FORM OF RESISTANCE
‘Do You Hear the Babies Crying?’: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Shouted Down in Mexican Restaurant
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen tried to have dinner in a Washington, D.C. Mexican restaurant Tuesday night. It didn’t go well for her.
Several people recognized the anti-immigrant Cabinet official and began filming. Quickly their numbers grew and in the middle of the restaurant they started shouting at her, asking how dare she appear in public when “over 10,000” migrant children whose parents have been arrested and detained are currently being housed by the federal government in internment camps.
“How can you enjoy a Mexican dinner as you’re deporting tens of thousands of people seeking asylum in the United States?”
“Abolish ICE,” they shouted, referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Nielsen on Monday afternoon told White House reporters that the administration has not created a policy to rip children away from their parents. Instead, she echoed the president’s lie, that they are following the law an have no choice. That is false.
“Shame! Shame! Shame!” they chanted. “If kids don’t eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace!” they repeatedly shouted, then adding, “Not in DC, not in the US!”
Part one of a video of @mdc_dsa @DC_IWW and others shouting DHS Secretary Nielsen out of a restaurant. She doesn’t need to be kidnapping #immigrantchildren to deserve this treatment. Don’t give the regime a moment of rest. #KeepFamilesTogether pic.twitter.com/B3RfraOk1E
— Smash Racism DC (@SmashRacismDC) June 20, 2018
One woman can be heard exclaiming, “In a Mexican restaurant, of all places! Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is in a Mexican restaurant of all places – the fucking gall!”
The protestors then continued the “shame!” chant, then moved on to, “No human being is illegal!”
Secretary Nielsen can be seen doing with a man, her head lowered as she tries to appear unaffected by the protestors while also trying to not appear in the camera frame.
Part two pic.twitter.com/bJI46jmXVf
— Smash Racism DC (@SmashRacismDC) June 20, 2018
They continued shouting, “How many more kids are you going to lock up?” and, “How do you sleep at night?” and, “End Texas concentration camps!”
Then one of the protestors addresses the restaurant patrons.
“Kirstjen Nielsen will want you to think that we are ruining your dinner. She is the Secretary of DHS. ICE rips children apart from their families every day. They lock them up in cages. They sleep under those silver blankets you guys get at marathons. These kids will never be reunited with their parents, because Kirstjen Nielsen’s staff doesn’t think it’s necessary to make a plan to reunite them with their parents.”
#AbolishICE #AbolishCBP pic.twitter.com/nh9hisfdl0
— Smash Racism DC (@SmashRacismDC) June 20, 2018
The protest ended with, “Kirstjen Nielsen you’re a villain,” which, to their credit, they were able to make rhyme.
Part four pic.twitter.com/Mx75lQkmrW
— Smash Racism DC (@SmashRacismDC) June 20, 2018
UPDATE:
The protestors appear to be part of the Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America. They posted the full, unedited video to Facebook, and say the restaurant name is MXDC.
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.