Rev. William Barber Speaks At Rally Outside SCOTUS Amid Birthright Citizenship Case
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, was America's 'rebirth,' guaranteeing birthright citizenship to prevent a permanent underclass.
- ❖Opponents of birthright citizenship are accused of using 'Confederate arguments' and seeking to establish a 'Trump court' over a Supreme Court.
- ❖Birthright citizenship ensures that children born in the U.S. receive equal protection under the law and the right to pursue happiness from day one.
- ❖The 14th Amendment protects 'all persons,' not just citizens, ensuring due process and equal protection for everyone in the country.
- ❖The fight to protect birthright citizenship unites diverse communities, including Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian Americans, who see it as a defense of fundamental human rights.
- ❖Personal testimonies from immigrant parents highlight the profound fear of their U.S.-born children becoming stateless or being separated from their families.
- ❖The 1898 Supreme Court case *Wong Kim Arc* affirmed the 14th Amendment's guarantee of citizenship to those born on U.S. soil, a precedent speakers argue has already settled the issue.
Insights
1The 14th Amendment as America's Rebirth and Foundation
Multiple speakers underscored the 14th Amendment's historical significance, specifically its role in reconstructing the nation post-Civil War and guaranteeing birthright citizenship. They argued it transformed the U.S. into a multi-racial democracy, extending rights beyond landowning white men and rejecting efforts to deny citizenship to formerly enslaved Africans.
Rev. William Barber stated the 14th Amendment was 'the rebirth of America' () and 'guaranteed birthright citizenship to anyone born in this nation' (). Deario Cooper explained it was created because enslaved people fought and 'gave the Bill of Rights to everyone who was not a landowning white man' (). Jana Nelson highlighted that when ratified, it 'rejected explicitly the effort to deny citizenship to formerly enslaved Africans' ().
2Attacks on Birthright Citizenship as a Threat to Human Rights and Democracy
Speakers framed attempts to end birthright citizenship as a direct assault on the Constitution, human rights, and the very idea of American democracy. They accused proponents of these changes, particularly Donald Trump, of seeking tyrannical power to decide who belongs and who doesn't, echoing historical injustices.
Rev. William Barber described efforts to remove birthright citizenship as 'another form of Trump's warped want to be God complex' () and likened it to 'Confederate arguments' (). Senator Alex Padilla stated, 'Donald Trump and his allies wants to be able to select who's a citizen and who's not' (), calling it 'wrong, unamerican and dangerous' (). Jana Nelson warned that allowing someone to 'rewrite our constitution' means 'giving ourselves over to a tyrant' ().
3The Personal Impact: Fear of Stateless Children and Family Separation
Several speakers, particularly immigrant parents, shared deeply personal testimonies about the emotional and psychological toll of the birthright citizenship debate. They expressed profound fear of their U.S.-born children being rendered stateless or separated from their families, emphasizing that these policies directly impact real lives.
Vosa, a CASA member, shared her experience of 'panic attacks' and 'mental health issues, thinking of one day my daughter being separated from me' (), fearing her U.S.-born child might not have the same rights. A., a migrant from Cameroon, spoke of the fear of children becoming 'stateless' () and not knowing if they belong. M., an Indigenous CASA member, stated, 'No mother and no parent should have to question if their children belongs to the country in which they were born' ().
4The Wong Kim Arc Precedent: A Settled Legal Issue
The rally highlighted the 1898 Supreme Court case *United States v. Wong Kim Arc* as definitive legal precedent, arguing that the issue of birthright citizenship for those born on U.S. soil has already been settled. Norman Wong, a descendant of Wong Kim Arc, spoke to the enduring legacy of this case.
Deario Cooper introduced Norman Wong as the descendant of Wong Kim Arc, whose 'great grandperson fought to protect citizenship right for immigrant people' (). Norman Wong stated that in 1898, Wong Kim Arc 'won his case before the United States Supreme Court affirming the 14th amendment that guarantees citizenship to those born on US soil' (), a decision that 'helped define what it means to be an American' ().
5Unity Across Diverse Communities in Defense of Rights
A recurring theme was the unity of various racial and ethnic communities—Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian—in defending birthright citizenship. Speakers emphasized that the attack on one group's rights is an attack on all, fostering a collective identity in the struggle.
Rev. William Barber noted attempts to 'divide black versus brown and brown versus Asian' () but declared, 'You have united us' (). Lydia Walther Rodriguez from CASA highlighted their members are 'black, latin, indigenous, afro descendant, and immigrant families' (). Deario Cooper celebrated the rally's diversity: 'You got brown people. You got AAPI people. You got uh brown like black people. This is the kind of country we want to live in' ().
Lessons
- Engage with civil rights organizations like the ACLU, CASA, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and LULAC, who are actively fighting to protect birthright citizenship.
- Educate yourself and others on the historical context and legal precedent of the 14th Amendment, particularly the *Wong Kim Arc* case, to counter misinformation.
- Advocate for policies that support family unity and oppose measures that could lead to the creation of a 'stateless' underclass, recognizing the human impact of these debates.
Notable Moments
Rev. William Barber's sermon-like address, invoking scripture and directly challenging the Supreme Court and political figures, including a moment where he asked security to remove a disruptive individual from the crowd.
This moment showcased the passionate, faith-based advocacy driving the movement and the immediate challenges faced by organizers in maintaining focus amidst opposition, highlighting the intensity of the debate.
The collective chants and call-and-response from the crowd, such as 'We will never abandon the children' and 'Defend the 14th Amendment,' often led by speakers.
These moments demonstrated the unity and collective resolve of the attendees, emphasizing the grassroots power and shared commitment to the cause.
Norman Wong, descendant of Wong Kim Arc, speaking about his family's legacy and the 1898 Supreme Court case that affirmed birthright citizenship.
This provided a direct, historical, and personal connection to the legal foundation of birthright citizenship, reinforcing the argument that the issue is not new and has been settled by the highest court.
The powerful testimonies from CASA members Vosa, A., and M., sharing their personal fears and experiences as immigrant parents and indigenous community members.
These personal stories humanized the legal and political debate, illustrating the profound and often terrifying impact that changes to birthright citizenship could have on real families and children.
Quotes
"Woe unto those who legislate evil and rob the poor of their rights and make women and children pray."
"If the Supreme Court chooses to overturn birthright citizenship after 158 years, then we would have to climb on top of that building and erase those words equal protection under the law. We might as well replace it with gold letters that says Trump court, not Supreme Court, Emperor's Court, King's Court."
"The 14th Amendment was the rebirth of America. That's why we had a reconstruction and that's why this reconstruction amendment guaranteed birthright citizenship to anyone born in this nation."
"Birthright citizenship is a constitutional right and our families are not up for debate."
"The 14th Amendment gave the Bill of Rights to everyone who was not a a landowning white man. That's what it did."
"The 14th amendment of the United States says that all persons get due process and equal protection under the law in this country. All persons, not citizens, all persons."
"In 1898, he won his case before the United States Supreme Court affirming the 14th amendment that guarantees citizenship to those born on US soil. That decision helped define what it means to be an American."
"The 14th Amendment speaks for itself. All persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States. If you're born here, you are a citizen. Couldn't be more clear."
"The 14th Amendment is the dividing line between this country's worst era and the multi-racial democracy that we hope to be."
"Immigration is not a problem for America to solve. Immigration is an opportunity for America to seize, an opportunity to build a country that is stronger, united despite our diversity but because our diversity."
Q&A
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