Somerville Plans 'Sanctuary City' Rally Following Executive Order

SOMERVILLE, MA – In response to last week's executive order pulling federal funding from sanctuary cities, Somerville will hold a rally this weekend in support of its policy. The rally will also celebrate 30 years of Somerville being a sanctuary city.

Sanctuary cities and counties are called that because they refuse to turn undocumented immigrants over to federal officials for deportation. Problematically for local officials, the term does not have a hard and fast legal definition. They are left looking instead to possible precedents, such as a bill proposed by Republicans during the last congressional session. The language in that bill carried a broad definition of "sanctuary city" that swept in even municipalities that do not explicitly identify themselves as such.

Somerville has been a self-described sanctuary since 1987, and Mayor Joseph Curtatone has been outspoken in his support of remaining one. Curtatone reaffirmed the city's stance at a press conference on Wednesday following President Trump's executive order.

"Our city, Somerville, Massachusetts, will not waver," Curtatone said. "Somerville will stand with you regardless of your race, creed, color, gender, nationality, legal status, religion, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. And Somerville will remain a sanctuary city. We will not turn our back on our neighbors. Our diversity is our strength."

Somerville's rally will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the Somerville High School concourse and is being held by The Welcome Project in conjunction with the City of Somerville. The event will feature a short speaking program and musical performances.

In the event of inclement weather, the rally will be held in the Somerville High School auditorium.

>>>Click here for more information about the event

Photo Credit: Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA (Prospect Hill Tower - Towards Boston) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons