Last night, while reporting live on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow broke down in tears attempting to get out breaking harrowing news about the conditions of family separations at the border continuing to worsen. During her show, the Associated Press came out with a new report of the Trump administration sending babies and children to “Tender age shelters” after being forcibly separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“This is incredible, Trump administration officials have been sending babies and other young children…To at least three…” Maddow said, beginning to cry.”I think I’m going to have to hand this off…” she continued before letting Lawrence O’Donnell take over the show from Brownsville, Texas.
Rachel Maddow chokes up and cries on air as she struggles to deliver news that migrant babies and toddlers have been sent to “tender age” shelters pic.twitter.com/O6crm8cvyR
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 20, 2018
Maddow asked her team to put up a graphic while she was reporting but it wasn’t ready so she had to muster up enough courage to continue. After the show, Maddow tweeted an apology to listeners, “If nothing else, it is my job to actually be able to speak while I’m on TV.”
Ugh, I’m sorry.
If nothing else, it is my job to actually be able to speak while I’m on TV.
What I was trying to do — when I suddenly couldn’t say/do anything — was read this lede:
1/6
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) June 20, 2018
It makes complete sense that she couldn’t finish reporting on such terrifying and heartbreaking news — reading through the figures of what Maddow had to report would bring anyone to tears. Babies and toddlers are being detained. “The three centers — in Combes, Raymondville and Brownsville — have been rapidly repurposed to serve needs of children, including some under 5. A fourth, planned for Houston, would house up to 240 children in a warehouse previously used for people displaced by Hurricane Harvey,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. […] “Doctors and lawyers who have visited the shelters said the facilities were fine, clean and safe, but the kids — who have no idea where their parents are — were hysterical, crying and acting out.”
The Associated Press has broken previous reports of children in these shelters being inconsolable in fits of tears and 16-year-olds being held having to change the diaper of some younger children who were locked away in the same cage together. Just typing that sentence out has me in tears. And while this is an issue our country has long perpetuated — Trump’s new “zero tolerance” policy is tearing families apart and locking them away at alarming rates.
“Those kids inside who have been separated from their parents are already being traumatized,” said Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who was denied entry earlier this month to children’s shelter. “It doesn’t matter whether the floor is swept and the bedsheets tucked in tight.”
If you want to take action about this issue, we as citizens do have a voice and can attempt to make a difference. There is currently the Keep Families Together Act up for vote (explained in detail here) — which needs the support of every Democrat. You can call (202) 224-3121, state your zip code and then once connected simple say “I live in ___ state and I support SB3036.” These families need our collective support to stop these heinous actions from our government.
What Do You Think?