What to do about it? Contact town officials to voice opinion to help them seems appropriate. Read also that we “ should be housing homeless veterans “ instead. Yes we should, but not instead. Thoughtless, selfish people would do well to read ‘Rough Sleepers’ by Tracy Kidder to learn what has been done in Boston. It’s a very complex issue, but to make migrants homeless instead of assisting seems asinine and stupid.
Thank you sir for your insightful and honest article. I first read it in the very group that states they wish all parties to join - "... ALL Americans are encouraged to join this group regardless of political party-affiliation as the repercussions of this will be felt by everyone... ", then attacks anyone who raises any questions about their motives and or policies. It is a new private FB group I initially joined to get information as the Town of Yarmouth had been bypassed by the State of Mass. concerning when migrants would be arriving in locations having previously signed contracts with the State of Mass. for housing for refugees. I am appalled at the nasty turn it has taken, filling with far right garbage rehashing the false election grievances of the ginned up right and thinly veiled threats against the State and Federal Governments while also disparaging local Officials too.
The members of the group include a number of former members of the currently defunct far right Cape Cod based MAGA group deceitfully titled "UCP" (United Cape Patriots) previously headquartered in Brewster, MA. and headed and run by a person whom has since left Cape Cod for the sunny, "red" tinged skies of Florida after the last election where ALL of the extremist far right candidates he backed were soundly defeated at the polls.
They demonstrate (they call it "a stand out") using signs with deceptive mottos using veterans, elderly, and other citizens in the most ugly and deceitful way. This from right wing zealots that have themselves done little if anything to assist the elderly, veterans, and low income local residents (and right now are actively working against Yarmouth's efforts to supply some relief through a revised ADU bylaw that has been years in development) from obtaining and keeping basic housing.
Thank you Seth for shining the Statue of Liberty's light on Yarmouth. Embarrassing stain on the Town that won't easily be forgotten, and those few protesting are demonstrating a noisy, visible lack of humanity.
I’m not from the Boston or Cape Cod area, do love it there!! Didn’t Martha’s Vineyard put the immigrants back on a plane or maybe a boat and had them leave Martha’s Vineyard immediately? So isn’t that hypocritical?
That is totally not true. The Vineyarders sheltered the migrants and secured them legal and other assistance. The migrants did relocate to the Cape, where it was much easier to secure necessary help dealing with immigration. Most of them returned to the Vineyard earlier this month to celebrate the anniversary of their arrival. Here's a story about that: https://www.mvtimes.com/2023/09/12/story-love-migrants-reunite-island/. An indie film, "Martha's Vineyard v. deSantis," was just released about the incident and its follow-up, which is still ongoing in the courts and elsewhere.
Many thanks for the question, Barbara. What actually happened was that the people who were dumped on the Vineyard with no notice or warning to the island, no comprehension or information about where they had been sent, not even translators, were housed temporarily, fed, put in touch with legal representation, and connected to social services. After some days and with a lot of support, they were moved to facilities set up by the Commonwealth to house migrants, located on Cape Cod, and then I believe most or all of them moved to more permanent homes in Massachusetts. I may be wrong but I believe a few returned to the island. What I'm sure of is that about three-quarters of them returned a year later for a weekend celebration and reunion with the people who helped them when they first arrived, as well as others in the community including visiting an annual gathering of the Wampanoag Tribe at Aquinnah -- the only community on the island not composed entirely of migrants or their descendants.
I don't find this hypocritical, though it's true that the island did not provide permanent housing and jobs for the 49 people who came; I'm unclear how many would have wanted to remain on a remote island with a seasonal economy and skyrocketed housing costs (another very serious issue), but that's another question.
Hope this helps clarify. Thanks again for the question.
Right on Seth. For those of us who remember a great Yarmouth ( swimming in Flax Pond, Bottomley's Donuts, running track at the high school, White's Path with nothing on it ) this is such a shame. There is progress in history but for this kind of crap, we all need to be vigilant. You stay in the lead.
Couldn't have said it better. All of that "patriotic" protesting is nothing more than Trumpism exposed. It's ugly. Easy to join a protest like this when you've got a full belly and a roof over your head.
As a Vineyard resident, I have rarely been prouder of this community than I was last fall when it rallied round to welcome the Venezuelan migrants who were transported here by Gov. DeSantis's duplicity. An indie film about the incident and its follow-up, "Martha's Vineyard v. DeSantis," premiered to SRO audiences on the Vineyard earlier this month. The story continues, with the focus of the legal case now on Bexar County, Texas. For more information about the case and the film, see this Martha's Vineyard Times story: https://www.mvtimes.com/2023/09/18/migrant-case-moves-forward-texas-grand-jury/.
We had a reality check over Labor Day weekend when white nationalist signs went up in the middle of Oak Bluffs. I guess it's somewhat encouraging that these signs were put up under cover of night: unlike the angry bigots in Yarmouth, the perps did not want to be identified (and so far they haven't been). It's up to all of us to remain vigilant so that our communities can live up to the popular sign that declares "Hate Has No Home Here."
Cape Cod is many things that are good and decent and beautiful, but anti-racist or decolonized are not one of them, and has not been all the years my family and my family’s family has been lucky enough to live on these unceded shores. Outside of the partisan political ruck a mucks protesting in Yarmouth, are spoiled white children who think nothing of trying to drown a Black child, police department’s that racially profile and school districts who have no idea what is or why BLM exists. We are a white centered community at the end of world, who continues to perpetuate stories of natives vs. wash ashores vs. tourists. We are all on unceded land here and we are all immigrants. From Bourne to Provincetown. We should all just be thanking our geographical luck and reminding each other that we are better together - always.
Thank goodness for we Americans who have given food and shelter to those coming here or who have suffered harm or calamitous devastation . At the same time I have repeatedly said, but what about all those of darker skin who are only treated as a headline in the latest news. Yes, Martha's Vineyard should be lauded. And you Seth, for whom I hold high praise for you and for your ability to put words to paper, thank you for speaking to truth.
Heartbreaking news, thank you for writing this. Sounds like there is deep rooted anger in those people. They need to really look at where that anger is coming from, its not the immigrants. Attacking the vulnerable is weak, cheap and ugly. I hope the goodies can come together and drown out the baddies. Hang in there.
What to do about it? Contact town officials to voice opinion to help them seems appropriate. Read also that we “ should be housing homeless veterans “ instead. Yes we should, but not instead. Thoughtless, selfish people would do well to read ‘Rough Sleepers’ by Tracy Kidder to learn what has been done in Boston. It’s a very complex issue, but to make migrants homeless instead of assisting seems asinine and stupid.
Thank you sir for your insightful and honest article. I first read it in the very group that states they wish all parties to join - "... ALL Americans are encouraged to join this group regardless of political party-affiliation as the repercussions of this will be felt by everyone... ", then attacks anyone who raises any questions about their motives and or policies. It is a new private FB group I initially joined to get information as the Town of Yarmouth had been bypassed by the State of Mass. concerning when migrants would be arriving in locations having previously signed contracts with the State of Mass. for housing for refugees. I am appalled at the nasty turn it has taken, filling with far right garbage rehashing the false election grievances of the ginned up right and thinly veiled threats against the State and Federal Governments while also disparaging local Officials too.
The members of the group include a number of former members of the currently defunct far right Cape Cod based MAGA group deceitfully titled "UCP" (United Cape Patriots) previously headquartered in Brewster, MA. and headed and run by a person whom has since left Cape Cod for the sunny, "red" tinged skies of Florida after the last election where ALL of the extremist far right candidates he backed were soundly defeated at the polls.
They demonstrate (they call it "a stand out") using signs with deceptive mottos using veterans, elderly, and other citizens in the most ugly and deceitful way. This from right wing zealots that have themselves done little if anything to assist the elderly, veterans, and low income local residents (and right now are actively working against Yarmouth's efforts to supply some relief through a revised ADU bylaw that has been years in development) from obtaining and keeping basic housing.
Thank you Seth for shining the Statue of Liberty's light on Yarmouth. Embarrassing stain on the Town that won't easily be forgotten, and those few protesting are demonstrating a noisy, visible lack of humanity.
Thank you, Seth.
I’m not from the Boston or Cape Cod area, do love it there!! Didn’t Martha’s Vineyard put the immigrants back on a plane or maybe a boat and had them leave Martha’s Vineyard immediately? So isn’t that hypocritical?
That is totally not true. The Vineyarders sheltered the migrants and secured them legal and other assistance. The migrants did relocate to the Cape, where it was much easier to secure necessary help dealing with immigration. Most of them returned to the Vineyard earlier this month to celebrate the anniversary of their arrival. Here's a story about that: https://www.mvtimes.com/2023/09/12/story-love-migrants-reunite-island/. An indie film, "Martha's Vineyard v. deSantis," was just released about the incident and its follow-up, which is still ongoing in the courts and elsewhere.
Many thanks for the question, Barbara. What actually happened was that the people who were dumped on the Vineyard with no notice or warning to the island, no comprehension or information about where they had been sent, not even translators, were housed temporarily, fed, put in touch with legal representation, and connected to social services. After some days and with a lot of support, they were moved to facilities set up by the Commonwealth to house migrants, located on Cape Cod, and then I believe most or all of them moved to more permanent homes in Massachusetts. I may be wrong but I believe a few returned to the island. What I'm sure of is that about three-quarters of them returned a year later for a weekend celebration and reunion with the people who helped them when they first arrived, as well as others in the community including visiting an annual gathering of the Wampanoag Tribe at Aquinnah -- the only community on the island not composed entirely of migrants or their descendants.
I don't find this hypocritical, though it's true that the island did not provide permanent housing and jobs for the 49 people who came; I'm unclear how many would have wanted to remain on a remote island with a seasonal economy and skyrocketed housing costs (another very serious issue), but that's another question.
Hope this helps clarify. Thanks again for the question.
Right on Seth. For those of us who remember a great Yarmouth ( swimming in Flax Pond, Bottomley's Donuts, running track at the high school, White's Path with nothing on it ) this is such a shame. There is progress in history but for this kind of crap, we all need to be vigilant. You stay in the lead.
"How dare you, spawn of immigrants, judge and try to expel?" Oh snap!
As usual, the voice of truth, speaking with eloquence. A reminder of who our best selves might be, and who our worst…
Couldn't have said it better. All of that "patriotic" protesting is nothing more than Trumpism exposed. It's ugly. Easy to join a protest like this when you've got a full belly and a roof over your head.
As a Vineyard resident, I have rarely been prouder of this community than I was last fall when it rallied round to welcome the Venezuelan migrants who were transported here by Gov. DeSantis's duplicity. An indie film about the incident and its follow-up, "Martha's Vineyard v. DeSantis," premiered to SRO audiences on the Vineyard earlier this month. The story continues, with the focus of the legal case now on Bexar County, Texas. For more information about the case and the film, see this Martha's Vineyard Times story: https://www.mvtimes.com/2023/09/18/migrant-case-moves-forward-texas-grand-jury/.
We had a reality check over Labor Day weekend when white nationalist signs went up in the middle of Oak Bluffs. I guess it's somewhat encouraging that these signs were put up under cover of night: unlike the angry bigots in Yarmouth, the perps did not want to be identified (and so far they haven't been). It's up to all of us to remain vigilant so that our communities can live up to the popular sign that declares "Hate Has No Home Here."
Truth,truth, truth and basic humanity. True leaders need to lead, not let the least evolved among us spread their vile views. Thank you, Seth.
Cape Cod is many things that are good and decent and beautiful, but anti-racist or decolonized are not one of them, and has not been all the years my family and my family’s family has been lucky enough to live on these unceded shores. Outside of the partisan political ruck a mucks protesting in Yarmouth, are spoiled white children who think nothing of trying to drown a Black child, police department’s that racially profile and school districts who have no idea what is or why BLM exists. We are a white centered community at the end of world, who continues to perpetuate stories of natives vs. wash ashores vs. tourists. We are all on unceded land here and we are all immigrants. From Bourne to Provincetown. We should all just be thanking our geographical luck and reminding each other that we are better together - always.
Thank goodness for we Americans who have given food and shelter to those coming here or who have suffered harm or calamitous devastation . At the same time I have repeatedly said, but what about all those of darker skin who are only treated as a headline in the latest news. Yes, Martha's Vineyard should be lauded. And you Seth, for whom I hold high praise for you and for your ability to put words to paper, thank you for speaking to truth.
Thanks for writing this Seth. Every time I hear a first generation immigrant’s story I am awed by their courage.
You should be appointed "Federal Social Justice Coordinator"
Heartbreaking news, thank you for writing this. Sounds like there is deep rooted anger in those people. They need to really look at where that anger is coming from, its not the immigrants. Attacking the vulnerable is weak, cheap and ugly. I hope the goodies can come together and drown out the baddies. Hang in there.