Since 1988, La Colaborativa has stood as a cornerstone of hope in Chelsea, Massachusetts, founded with one simple but radical belief: that every person deserves the right to live with dignity.Â
Following the election, our leaders and staff experienced a noticeable uptick in harassment and intimidation, ranging from incessant phone calls to verbal death threats endangering our President, Gladys Vega. Physical and cyber security measures have been instituted to fortify the organization, with the goal of providing uninterrupted services to our community.Â
Soberingly, over the last week, the situation has escalated dramatically. Our leadership team has witnessed undisclosed individuals conspicuously monitoring our private homes as a sign of intimidation.
Individuals that previously threatened our organization with violence, including people with a known history of firearm possession, have been observed capturing photographs of our buildings, including emergency exits and other life safety infrastructure. Staff are increasingly harassed and threatened whenever they venture into public spaces.
These situations, a grave trend, have culminated with multiple police reports and, as of this last week, the issuance of temporary restraining orders by the state courts. Despite these safety measures, the heightened level of danger to all of us requires that we speak out publicly.Â
Simultaneous to these indescribable events, multiple funders have notified La Colaborativa of the cancellation of private grants solely because the organization serves low-income Latinx and immigrant residents. In short, these organizations fear being ensnared in legal action by the Trump Administration. Strikingly, this significant loss coincides with a grave need for investment – in measures to promote security, staff wellbeing, and uninterrupted operations for the residents that rely upon us each day.Â
We have taken steps to protect our team and the community we serve. We will not be silenced. And, most of all, we will not abandon our community. Â
