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"A Personal Response to Israel-Iran's ceasefire"                                                  6/25/25

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"A Personal Response to Israel-Iran's ceasefire"                                                  6/25/25

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Brief Description:

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, President Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was in effect after a tense 12-day conflict that had escalated beyond anyone's expectations. The war began when Israel targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites, citing fears that Iran was close to developing atomic weapons. What started as targeted strikes quickly spiraled into a broader conflict when the U.S. joined by dropping bunker-buster bombs, and Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli cities and a U.S. military base in Qatar. The ceasefire got off to a rocky start, with both sides apparently violating the agreement almost immediately. Iran allegedly fired missiles into Israeli airspace hours after the truce was supposed to begin, while Israel conducted strikes that killed an Iranian nuclear scientist. Trump expressed deep frustration with both nations, saying they "don't know what they're doing" after fighting for so long. Eventually, after a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel agreed to call back its jets and refrain from further attacks. The conflict resulted in at least 28 deaths in Israel and 974 in Iran, with thousands more wounded.

Personal Reflection:

Reading about this ceasefire left me with a mixture of relief and deep concern that I'm still processing. As someone who has spent time building bridges between communities and working with underserved populations, seeing the human cost of this conflict; over a thousand lives lost in just 12 days, truly breaks my heart in ways I can barely articulate. What strikes me most is how quickly this situation spiraled out of control. One moment we're reading about targeted strikes, and suddenly we're facing the possibility of a wider war that could have drawn in multiple nations. It makes me think about how fragile peace really is, and how the decisions of a few people in power can affect millions of innocent lives. The image of families in Beersheba hiding in safe rooms that couldn't protect them from direct missile hits, or the thought of that nuclear scientist killed at his father-in-law's home; these aren't just statistics, they're real people with families who love them. As a Christian, I find myself clinging to the hope that this ceasefire holds, while also feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. My faith teaches me to pray for peace and to love my enemies, but I also struggle with the reality that both sides seem convinced they're fighting for their survival. When I perform and share my music, it's often about bringing hope to broken situations, but conflicts like this remind me how much brokenness exists in our world and how desperately we need healing. What gives me some comfort is seeing that dialogue is still possible and that a phone call between leaders could pull planes back from their targets. It reminds me that even in the darkest moments, there's still room for choosing peace over destruction. I just pray that both sides can find a way to address their legitimate concerns without more innocent people paying the price for decisions they had no part in making.

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Trump says Israel-Iran ceasefire is in effect after deal initially faltered

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U.S. President Donald Trump says a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is in effect after the deal initially faltered and the American leader expressed deep frustration with both sides.

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"A Personal Response to NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander's Arrest at Immigration Court"                                                    6/18/25

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"A Personal Response to NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander's Arrest at Immigration Court"                                                    6/18/25

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Brief Description:

On a Tuesday morning in Manhattan, NYC Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents at an immigration court. Lander was arrested after he linked arms with a person that authorities were attempting to detain, physically trying to prevent the separation of an immigrant from their support system. Video shows that agents struggled to separate Lander from the man he'd linked arms with for more than 40 seconds before wrestling the two apart. When told he was obstructing, Lander responded, "I'm not obstructing, I'm standing right here in the hallway" and questioned their authority to arrest U.S. citizens without a judicial warrant. This incident occurred during large-scale arrests outside immigration courtrooms across the country, where immigrants are being detained even after appearing for their scheduled court hearings.

My Own Reflection:

Watching this unfold hits me in the deepest part of my soul, and I can barely contain the overwhelming emotions that surge through me. This is my reality, my family's story, and the nightmare that keeps me awake at night. My parents' journey from El Salvador in the late 1980s suddenly feels so fragile and precious. My father, my husband, aunts, uncles and “my family” didn't just come here for themselves. They came with hearts full of hope and hands ready to work, determined to lift up entire families and chase the American dream. From sleeping on mattresses on the floor and sharing cramped apartments to building their own business and earning citizenship, their story represents everything beautiful about immigration to this country. But now, watching federal agents literally rip people away from those trying to support them, I feel a rage and heartbreak that threatens to consume me. This could be my husband next. We live in daily fear of his upcoming court hearings, just a few days short here in NYC, knowing that even showing up and doing everything right doesn't guarantee safety. We've spent thousands of dollars trying to ensure he can stay in this country he's grown to love, yet we know ICE agents could be waiting outside the courthouse, ready to tear our family apart regardless of our compliance with the legal process. What breaks my heart most is seeing the complete lack of empathy for people who are simply trying to survive and provide for their families. These aren't criminals, these are people like my parents, like my husband, who came here seeking safety, opportunity, and a chance to contribute to their communities. The fact that immigrants are being arrested even after appearing for their court hearings shows this isn't about following the law, it's about cruelty for cruelty's sake. Brad Lander's arrest for simply linking arms with someone facing detention speaks to something profound about human dignity and solidarity. As someone who grew up in an underserved community in Queens, who has dedicated my life to serving others through music, teaching, and charitable work, I understand the instinct to stand with the vulnerable. When I perform and create music, it's to share messages of hope for the broken, to connect across cultures and communities. Lander's act of physical solidarity in literally linking arms, embodies the same spirit of refusing to let others face injustice alone. The fear my husband and I live with daily.

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NEW YORK (AP) - New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents at an immigration court Tuesday after he linked arms with a person authorities were attempting to detain.

A reporter with The Associated Press and other journalists witnessed Lander's arrest at a federal building in Manhattan, the latest confrontation between U.S. agents and a Democratic politician objecting to the Trump administration's mass detention and deportation programs.

Lander was released from custody after a few hours. The U.S. attorney's office said it was investigating his actions and would decide later whether to charge him with a crime. The immigrant Lander escorted out of the courtroom was also arrested.

Lander had spent the morning observing immigration court hearings and told an AP reporter he was there to "accompany" some immigrants out of the building.

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u.s. immigration and customs enforcement

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NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrested at immigration court

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New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander has been arrested by federal agents at an immigration court after he linked arms with a person who authorities were attempting to detain.

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"When Fear Comes Home: A Personal Response to Governor Newsom's Immigration Address"                                            (6/11/25)

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"When Fear Comes Home: A Personal Response to Governor Newsom's Immigration Address"                                            (6/11/25)

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Brief Description:

Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a powerful address to California following recent federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. This speech addresses the large-scale workplace raids that have targeted immigrant communities, the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to the streets of Los Angeles, and the escalating tensions between federal and state authorities. Newsom criticized what he called "mass deportations indiscriminately targeting hard-working immigrant families" and condemned the militarization of American streets. The governor described scenes of federal agents arresting pregnant women, separating families, and creating fear throughout Latino communities, while also addressing the protests and civil unrest that followed.

My Own Reflection:

Watching Governor Newsom's address felt like witnessing someone speak directly to my heart and my family's story. As someone whose parents sacrificed everything to build a life in America, his words about hard-working immigrant families resonated deeply with me. My father, who started working at age 10 in El Salvador and came here in the late 1980s to support his parents and eleven siblings, represents exactly the kind of person Newsom was defending; someone who came here not to take advantage, but to build up their family and community. The governor's description of families being separated and people "quite literally disappearing" brought tears to my eyes because it hits so close to home. My husband, who is currently going through the asylum process after being here for over a year, could easily be one of those people grabbed from an unmarked van. We live with that fear every single day. The thousands of dollars we've spent on legal fees, the sleepless nights wondering if our family will be torn apart; Well, this is our reality, and hearing Newsom acknowledge this struggle felt validating. What struck me most was his point about targeting "dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers, and seamstresses." These are the jobs my parents worked when they first arrived, sleeping on mattresses on the floor and sharing apartments with other families. These are the people who built the communities I grew up in, who attended our church, who helped raise me through their example of hard work and dedication. They're not criminals, they're dreamers who became citizens, business owners, and pillars of their communities. These are my aunts, my uncles, my father, and my husband. As a teacher, I see the impact of this fear in my classroom. When Newsom mentioned "kids afraid of attending their own graduation," I thought of my students whose parents might be afraid to come to school events, whose concentration suffers because they're worried about their families. Education becomes secondary when survival is at stake. The governor's warning about democracy being under assault, resonated with my core values of treating everyone with respect and dignity. Growing up doing charitable work in underserved communities taught me that everyone deserves compassion, regardless of their documentation status or skin color. The militarization of our streets and the targeting of people based on "suspicion or skin color" goes against everything I believe about America's promise. What gives me hope is Newsom's call for citizens to stand up and be held accountable. As someone who uses music to share messages of hope for the broken, I understand the power of raising our voices. His reminder that "you are the antidote to that fear and anxiety" speaks to my belief that we can overcome division through empathy and action. This address reinforced my commitment to continue serving my community, supporting immigrant families, and using my platform as an educator and performer to advocate for justice. My parents' journey from poverty to citizenship proves that America is strongest when we welcome those seeking a better life, not when we terrorize them in the streets they now call home.

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Governor Newsom Delivers Major Address to Californians