Lee — Instead of song, local blues and gospel musician Robin OHerin used her voice to address the Lee Select Board at its August 19 meeting in support of a resolution confirming that “enforcement of the nation’s federal civil immigration laws is solely the responsibility of the federal government, not the Lee Police Department or other Town departments.”
“No Town police officer in Lee performs the functions of a federal immigration officer,” the document states.
The resolution also provides an affirmation of a town policy for officials to not inquire about an individual’s immigration status unless that status is directly related to a criminal matter or otherwise required by law.
“It’s not about making demands; it’s about working together to keep people safe,” OHerin said.
A copy of the resolution under consideration can be found here.
At the meeting, OHerin relayed an alleged incident in which a woman who became a U.S. citizen last year was the subject of a recent raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, leaving her and her daughter terrified.
“I just feel like the constitutional rights of citizens are being violated, and I want to protect the citizens of Lee,” OHerin said. “We welcome immigrants. We opened our hearts and our homes to them, and they’re in danger. This is not going against anything; this is action supporting Massachusetts law. We’re not asking anything outside of the law; we’re just asking for a statement that, ‘Yes, we want to protect our citizens and our legal immigrants.’”
Lee resident Betsy Isbell also appealed to board members to approve the resolution, and with other supporters in the meeting room, OHerin asked the dais to put it to a vote.
Select Board Chair Sean Regnier responded that he shares OHerin’s sentiment and “doesn’t see any reason why we wouldn’t all welcome immigrants.”
A related measure condemning dictatorship written by Dr. Peter May passed in North Adams this spring, as reported by iBerkshires, with OHerin citing May as producing the original draft of the Lee resolution. The Lee resolution is in the process of being reviewed by Becket, and OHerin said she submitted the document to other Berkshire towns.
Although Lee officials had seen a prior draft of the document that, according to Select Board member Gordon Bailey, Lee Police Chief Craig DeSantis advised him to reject as contrary to pages of policies governing the town’s police force, the August 19 document touts significant revisions.
Regnier was troubled by the revised status of the document referencing a Select Board “resolution” rather than a “rule of law” as noted on the evening’s agenda, and said some policy issues may arise with that change. Although the group has passed resolutions aimed at equality, equity, and diversity, he said the resolution before it “is more tailored to police and town official engagement as it pertains to immigration and what’s going on with the federal police at this moment.”
With the revised document in hand, Bailey said the group will now take time to review the resolution considering its detailed existing policy.
“They have these hundred-page books with all of their regulations, but they need to know that the people want them to protect the immigrants and not work with ICE, which they don’t have to do,” OHerin told The Berkshire Edge in a phone interview. “It’s just another way to show support, support the police and give them a reason to do the right thing and support the people in our communities.”
Select Board members unofficially agreed to put the revised resolution on the agenda for the next meeting slated for September 2.
“This town was built by immigrants,” Bailey said. “This town has basically built its population on immigrants—Italian, Irish, you name it, working in the mills, working in the quarries. We need to keep that in mind.”
The action came shortly before ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons pushed to “flood the zone” with federal immigration enforcement in Boston, as reported August 21 by that city’s WCBV5 station.
Founders Weekend
Known as a celebration that draws out hundreds of residents and Berkshire guests, Founders Weekend is set to begin September 19 with the Taste of Lee. “One month from today, on September 19, we will launch this year’s Founders Weekend with the Taste of Lee,” Lee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alexandra Heddinger announced to the Select Board. The program runs from September 19 through 21.
The Friday event, which closes Main Street to vehicular traffic, includes food vendors, musical acts, and fireworks. A beer tent will be open at 100 Main Street, including the Locker Room restaurant and Antimony Brewing.
The festivities continue the following day with a runner’s race, hometown parade, craft fair, classic car show, concerts, cook-offs, historic church tours, and a church supper.
Saturday will also feature a free Family Fun Day at the Lee Athletic Field following the parade. Sponsored by the Lee Youth Commission and Chamber, the 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. program will offer performances by 413 Cheer, Gymnastics Unlimited, Bowey the Clown, and Terry A La Berry & Friends. Other activities include a circus skills station, balloon animal making, face painting, Ninja agility challenges, an inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, art station, and various children’s activities, with the annual Lee Skate Park Competition scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Sunday offers “an all-new dog parade” in addition to the Lee Lions Club’s annual rubber duck races, Heddinger said.
Those interested in volunteering, becoming a vendor, donating to the fireworks display, registering for the dog parade, or just seeking more information can visit the Lee Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Details of the Free Fun Day, including the Skate Park Competition, can be found here.
