Letter to Town Select Board on Afghan Refugees
On August 23rd we wrote this letter to the Town Select Board, urging them to join Governor Baker in welcoming Afghan refugees to Massachusetts. The Select Board has agreed to discuss this issue at their meeting on Monday, August 30th, at 7pm.
Dear Duxbury Select Board Members:
For over 20 years, brave men and women fought in Afghanistan. From the very start they were supported by an extraordinary Afghan-American woman and South Shore resident—Razia Jan—who collected shoes for US Soldiers and Airmen to distribute to children and so build goodwill between them and the people of Afghanistan. Operation Shoe Fly was the first of many selfless acts by Razia, who believed that her native country—especially its women—deserved the freedom and opportunity she found in the U.S. The school for girls she built outside Kabul, whose motto is “Diplomas not Dowries”, earned her a CNN Top 10 hero award in 2012. Since its founding it has been a beacon of hope for hundreds of Afghan girls.
The collapse of the Afghan government has led to the return of the Taliban. Tens of thousands of Afghans believing in democracy—like Razia—provided crucial aid to American troops. They are now in grave danger. Hopefully, the Biden administration will rescue them, and many will find refuge here in the country they supported.
Governor Baker has already announced that Massachusetts will accept refugees from Afghanistan. As a community committed to diversity, equity & inclusion, we believe that Duxbury should join Governor Baker and provide aid to these refugees, including opening our doors to families who seek shelter here. Our community stepped forward and helped Razia raise money to build her school, and over the past 12 years, scores of local families have sponsored girls who could not afford to attend on their own. Like the girls of Razia’s school, the refugees who are coming to America are not strangers—they are our friends and our allies. What better way to honor their heroism and the work of our local hero, Razia Jan, than to welcome them here into our community?
We urge you to contact state and non-profit organizations that work with refugees to determine what Duxbury can do to support Afghan refugees in Massachusetts. Duxbury for All will do everything we can to help you and resettlement agencies in providing aid and comfort to those who seek asylum here.
The Rev. Catherine Cullen
Tara Downes
Elika Dadsetan-Foley
Maarten Hemsley
Karl Kunz
Fred L’Ecuyer
Laura Neprud
Bruce Rutter
Karen Wong