THE NEW COLOSSUS

Emma Lazarus

This is a redacted version of Lazarus’ poem, part of which forever adorns the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, welcoming immigrants. She penned it in 1883.

The times have changed, and we find ourselves in the 1860s once again. A kingly presidency and an emaciated Republican Party, the lack of a meaningful Democratic Party opposition, and a bought-and-paid-for Supreme Court majority are leading the United States back down the path of strife and hatred that tore the country apart in the 1860s. Demonizing non-white immigrants is merely the initial step; prosecuting and denaturalizing opposing US citizens appears to be the next move.