Leah the Activist
Keeping families together
“Hey youth! Let’s show the world that as young leaders we are united and unafraid. We will end family separation and detention! SOMOS FUERTES! WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER!”
Leah (she/her) was just 13 years old when she was selected by Amplifier to be part of the We the Future campaign and she has been an activist since she was 7. Her cause is very personal: she is fighting for the rights of her parents to not be deported and to protect her sister’s DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status.
As a youth leader with Families Belong Together, she’s using her voice to fight for the rights of all families to be together, and for children to be free and treated with dignity. Leah plans to be a teacher when she’s older, so she can continue to support other young people to find their voice and become leaders too.
“I had the opportunity to share my story at the big Families Belong Together rally on June 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. I also helped collect over 1,000 letters from children at my school to send to children in detention.”
“My family could be deported at any time. I have to be careful not to tell people my address, my school, or give them information about my mother. I have to be smart and protect my family.”
The Organization
Families Belong Together is a coalition of 250 organizations working together to fight the separation of families immigrating to the U.S. It promotes dignity, unity, and compassion for all children and families, regardless of origin. It works to end separation and detention, seek government accountability, and reunite all families who remain apart.
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