A coalition of Salem-based organizations has launched the People's Pantry, a mutual aid drive that will run throughout this week and culminate in a Community Speakout on Saturday at noon. This protest will be held near the Bewitched Statue in Lappin Park located at 239 Essex Street in Salem.
The coalition is comprised of: the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts, the North Shore Democratic Socialists of America, the Welcome Immigrant Network, and Witch City Action. These organizations have joined forces to send a clear message to elected leaders: stop using our tax dollars to terrorize immigrant communities and feed people instead.
LUCE has organized other People's Pantry actions this week throughout Massachusetts. Their website has the following statement:
While families struggle to eat, billions are being poured into ICE, detention, and deportation - stripping food, dignity, and hope from our tables to fund cruelty. This isn’t just an attack on immigrants; it’s an attack on all of us. When one family goes hungry, every community in Massachusetts feels the loss. These policies don’t keep us safe; they tear our communities apart. But we know another way: we feed each other, we stand together. And together, we demand a state that invests in care, not cages. Our solidarity and power is stronger than their neglect.
Mutual Aid Drive
The Salem coalition encourages people to donate directly to the following local aid organizations:
- Haven from Hunger
- Lynn LUCE Mutual Aid Fund
- My Brother's Table
- The Salem Pantry
- Salem Survival Program via Cash App
- St Peter's-San Pedro Rector's Fund
In addition, dry goods and/or cash donations can be dropped off locations throughout Salem. Here is a map of participating sites:
The coalition will also collect dry goods, diapers and winter coats at Saturday's Community Speakout Protest.
Donated dry goods will be distributed to My Brother's Table, The Salem Pantry and Salem Survival Program. Donated coats and diapers will be sent to St Peter's-San Pedro Church to be distributed to local immigrant families.
Additional Actions
LUCE asks people to call Governor Healey and their state legislators this week to urge them cancel plans for a new women's prison and instead reinvest those funds to combat food insecurity. Here is the call script for these calls:
LUCE has also created a petition to Governor Healey with the same message. Keep in mind though that petitions are less impactful than phone calls to elected officials.
Action Network
Protest Sign Art
LUCE has created an archive of free graphics created by Massachusetts artists that you can incorporate into your signs for Saturday's Community Speakout in Lappin Park. North Shore Progressives also maintains a directory of free protest art as well as tutorials on creating impatful signs.
