Members of Rhode Island’s refugee community, including Afghan refugees, gathered outside the Refugee Dream Center in Providence on Wednesday to condemn last week’s National Guard shooting and the ensuing immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who worked with the United States government in Afghanistan before emigrating, has been accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington D.C., killing Sarah Beckstrom and seriously injuring Andrew Wolfe. The incident has inflamed an already fraught situation for local immigrants, many of whom face uncertain status amid the rapid policy changes by the Trump administration.
“We extend our deepest condolence to [the victims’] family and our prayers are with them,” says Teddi Jallow, executive director of the Refugee Dream Center. “In moments like this, it is easy for fear to be turned into blame. And unfortunately, hateful rhetoric coming from Washington D.C. has made that work.
You can read the full article here.