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By State Rep. Christine Barber

Right now, we are facing tremendous threats – to our communities, economy, and our democracy. Like many of you, I have been struggling since the federal election to address these challenges. The last few weeks have escalated our fears of deportations of immigrants who have not committed crimes, of threats against transgender youth, and of a loss of federal funding for critical programs. I am angry about the dangerous decisions being made in Washington, many of which will have very real impacts on our communities. This is a scary moment for so many, but it is also a time to harness our local strengths and channel them into action.

As a state official, I am focused on what I can do at the State House to support the safety and rights of residents in Somerville, Medford, and around Massachusetts. This means I am filing and supporting bills that ensure the rights of immigrants, LGBT people, and reproductive health. I am also working with local partners to share resources about basic rights to get clear information out. 

In Massachusetts, we have already taken many steps to meet this moment. A number of years ago, we passed the Roe Act to codify care for abortion and reproductive health in state law, and we have expanded access to gender-affirming health care and shielded medical providers from attacks. We have passed strong laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in housing, health, and public accommodations. These measures and others will continue to provide needed safeguards against federal overreach into our communities and against our basic rights.  

While I am proud of the foundation that we have built in Massachusetts, there is more we can do. This session, I filed HD.3596 The Dignity not Deportations Act to minimize the abuse of power by federal ICE agents and ensure that our Commonwealth remains true to its values. Federal ICE immigration authorities rely on state resources to detain and deport residents who have not committed crimes. This bill would prohibit agreements that allow ICE to deputize local law enforcement to act as federal immigration agents and would prohibit state contracts with ICE – without limiting state employees from taking action on criminal matters. This ensures that our state resources are not being used for Trump’s mass deportation agenda and is a step Massachusetts can take to protect members of our immigrant communities.

I am also continuing to fight for reproductive freedoms in the face of federal threats. While Massachusetts has significantly increased support for reproductive care since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, challenges remain in ensuring health care is a decision between the patient and their doctor. A bill I filed this session, HD.2651 An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care, clarifies that decision-making regarding abortion care, including later in pregnancy, is in the hands of patients and doctors based on the physician’s professional judgment.

Addressing climate change is another issue I am prioritizing, particularly for people in environmental justice areas who face the greatest threats. I filed HD.1924 An Act to Ensure Cleaner Air for Communities Overburdened by Air Pollution, which will create air quality monitoring in certain hotspots and set concrete targets to improve air quality. Poor air quality, due to pollution like highway traffic, has been shown to cause cardiovascular diseases and higher incidences of asthma. Mitigating the effects of climate change is something we need to keep working on at the state and local levels.

I have serious concerns about potential federal actions that are beyond our control, particularly cuts to federal funding. Our state receives significant funds for health care, education, and transportation projects through federal programs. We must continue to reach out to our elected officials at the federal level to remind them how important these programs are so we do not lose access to basic services that residents depend upon. 

Many people are already taking action – showing up at rallies, making calls, and sharing information about our rights and needed services. These are all critical activities right now. I suggest two other actions:
1) Share information and meet with people with similar concerns. There is a lot of misinformation swirling around, but organizations like MIRA Coalition have Know Your Rights trainings and information to support immigrants. You can find out more at https://miracoalition.org/news/know-your-rights/.
2) Find local organizations – online and on social media – that work to protect access to federal programs and issues you care about. Right now, many organizations are looking for volunteers to take action, and this is a helpful way to channel anger and fear into something positive for our communities.

This moment asks us to work together and reminds us of the importance of state and local government in standing up for the needs of our communities. Massachusetts can lead the way and continue to stand up against the many challenges we face. There is power in partnership and working together to protect our neighbors.