Utah's Jewish community rallies at ICE field office, opposing Trump's immigration reform
(KUTV) — Utah's Jewish community held a vigil demonstration in front of West Valley City's ICE field office on Saturday, protesting against the president's approach to immigration.
Local Jewish organizations, members and friends gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in West Valley for a "Close The Camps" vigil, demonstrating their joint opposition to the Trump Administration's immigration policies and procedures.
"Because of the Holocaust, modern Jews all learn and well know the cry 'Never Again'. It's part of who we are," stated a press release from vigil's organizers.
They added:
As a result of the current Administration's overtly hostile and inhumane immigration policies and procedures, Never Again Is Now!
The event was hosted by the Utah Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women and Utah Jews for Refugees. It was also a part of over 50 other demonstrations taking place across the country this weekend, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av - a day of mourning.
The Close The Camps campaign's website answers the question of why the demonstrations are occurring alongside Tisha B'Av:
Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning for the plight of our refugee ancestors. On this Jewish day of mourning, we cannot ignore the cries of those whose tragedy is right before us, the many immigrants and asylum seekers who are being treated inhumanely by the Trump administration.
We need to demonstrate publicly that the Jewish community will not turn its back on refugees arriving in our country and our immigrant neighbors already here.
According to event organizers, the holiday literally translates to the "ninth day of Av," and is believed to be the saddest day on the Jewish calendar as it commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem.
