– Brenda Dimas-Lopez, 2022 SAF intern
New Frame LLC
Given the opportunity to work at the General Assembly this summer has shown me plenty of injustices, but has also shown me the sense of community among the people who want to fix those issues at a state level.
Towards the end of the session, Senate Bill 101, an anti-immigrant bill that would require local sheriffs to work with ICE, started moving through committees and I saw several passionate people urge their representatives to vote against this bill. I heard these representatives use hateful and xenophobic language towards my community. I saw the way it pained my community to see their livelihood be discussed by someone who knows nothing about us. I felt anger, but I felt some comfort in knowing I was not alone.
The General Assembly was packed with many activists that week and I witnessed courage among all of them. I saw my older sister display courage in the speech she gave and I was moved by the way the room was captivated by her words. Working with policy can be an uphill battle, but I feel relief knowing I am not alone in any cause.