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Keep Fighting: Sign a Holiday Card to the Dreamers Who Have Inspired Us

Posted December 22, 2010 by Frank Sharry

As you know, we needed 60 votes on Saturday to end a Republican filibuster and pass the DREAM Act in the U.S. Senate.

We got a solid majority, with a vote of 55-41, but it was not enough to turn the DREAM Act into law. Even though we won a majority of votes in the Senate and a majority of votes in the House earlier this month, members of the Republican minority were able to use a procedural move in order to block DREAM from becoming law. A handful of Democrats joined them.

A minority of Senators slammed the door of opportunity on over 800,000 young people who call the U.S. home, and we won’t soon forget.

While these cowardly senators blocked the dreams of so many talented youth this week, we know this: In the battle between justice and injustice, inclusion and exclusion, courage and cowardice, victory is not a matter of if, but a matter of when.

Sign our holiday card to the courageous leaders of the DREAM Act movement—let them know you will keep fighting alongside them.

I also wanted to share a few of the thoughts I’ve received from DREAM leaders across the country, thanking you all for your hard work this month:

Juan Escalante, Florida Dream Activist writes:

As a Florida DREAM leader, I want you to know that we noticed how hard you guys were fighting and what a difference that made… So many of our Florida representatives—Republicans and Democrats—helped to pass DREAM out of the House of Representatives, and they were hearing from you all before the vote.

From United We Dream’s Matias Ramos:

I moved to Washington DC last April to fight for the DREAM Act. In that time, many people jumped from the sidelines to the middle of the action to fight for justice for immigrant youth. Thanks everyone who worked alongside Dreamers throughout this year.

And last but not least, Trail of Dreams’ Gaby Pacheco:

We are no longer afraid to tell our stories and to tell Congress to give us an opportunity to live our lives. The same way that you cannot cover the sun with one finger, they will never be able to cover us… We are a bigger movement.

These young leaders have been a true inspiration to me. They make me sure that, in the not-so-distant-future, fear will be overcome by justice, compassion and love—if we fight hard enough for it.

If that is not what this season is about, I don’t know what is.

Let these bold leaders know you think so, too.

Tags : america's voice, christmas, dream act, dream act 2010, frank sharry, holiday card

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