The Boston Teachers Union stands in opposition to the detention of Tufts University Graduate Student Rumeysa Ozturk, who is in the United States on a valid F-1 visa, in Somerville on Tuesday, March 25th. We are gravely concerned by the lack of communication and transparency around ICE activity in our community, and the disturbing fact that her arrest was motivated by engaging in peaceful protest and civil disobedience.
This action is part of a chilling pattern of attacks both on the immigrant community and on peaceful protest. In June, our membership passed a resolution which stated in part “We in the Boston Teachers Union, as a union that represents thousands of educators in Boston, are deeply disturbed by the mobilization of security forces against peaceful protestors… We believe that the freedom to assemble and protest are essential democratic rights for students and workers alike. Disciplining, arresting, and prosecuting students and educators involved in peaceful demonstration is fundamentally contrary to our values as a Union.”
We call upon University, Massachusetts and Federal officials to do everything in their power to secure her release and restore democratic due process rights guaranteed under the Constitution. In the face of these disturbing events, the Boston Teachers Union will continue to defend the rights of our immigrant students and families to speak freely without fear of persecution.