ABD'de 6 haftalık gözaltı süresinin ardından serbest bırakılan Tufts Üniversitesi doktora öğrencisi Rümeysa Öztürk, "Doktora çalışmalarım için çok önemli bir dönemde hem özgürlüğümü hem de eğitimimi kaybettim. Çalışma ortamıma, hocalarıma ve öğrencilerime geri döneceğim için çok heyecanlıyım" dedi.
01:46But I am so grateful for all the support, kindness and care.
01:53My advisor sent me my dissertation proposal to the prison.
01:59My love miss had been reading me books on the phone that are very old.
02:05And my department professor students have sent me so many letters of support.
02:14So much love and comforting words.
02:20My union organized on behalf of me and other international students with so much effort, love and care.
02:28I had so many lovely people sending me letters like comforting words again.
02:36So thank you all.
02:38And finally, I will also remind one more time, please don't forget about all these wonderful women in the immigration detention systems.
02:46I was so tired of witnessing cries and pain that can be all preventable.
02:52Thank you.
03:00Thank you, Carol.
03:02And God bless the ACLU.
03:06Thank you.
03:07And all the work that your lawyers did.
03:09God bless you, Marcel.
03:11I've worked with you for years.
03:13You're such a powerful voice for justice.
03:16Just lawyers stepped up.
03:18They took on this case and they've set an incredibly important historical precedent.
03:24And I'm here with Ayanna Pressley, who is a voice for justice, no matter where she is.
03:34And Congressman Jim McGovern, who could not be with us this evening, but equally committed to human rights and to protect against their violations, no matter where he is, no matter what he does.
03:48And he really is so happy at the release of Romesa.
03:53And to you, Jesse Rossman, and to everyone who has joined us, but especially to you Romesa.
04:03Today is a tremendous day as we welcome you back Romesa.
04:08You have made millions and millions of people across our country so proud of the way you have fought, you have resisted, you have stood up to injustice.
04:20And today is a great day of celebration for millions of people who had your back and an example to all Americans to stand up for people who are suffering from injustice.
04:35Even amidst all of that injustice, today is a day of joy because of your release.
04:42And that federal district court judge in Vermont, it ordered that release.
04:53And the joy that comes from welcoming a friend and a loved one home, that joy comes from a moment here in the springtime.
05:04The joy that comes from a hard-fought victory in a fight for what is right after talking with Romesa down in Louisiana and here this evening.
05:17I feel such joy.
05:19And it's from her joy and her strength that she is now an inspiration to millions of others across our country and across the world as well because the world looked at this case.
05:35Yesterday that federal district court judge did order the release of Romesa immediately.
05:43It's a victory for Romesa.
05:45It's a victory for justice.
05:46It's a victory for our democracy.
05:49I had the privilege.
05:51Thank you.
05:52Thank you, Ed.
05:53Thank you for your friendship.
05:55Thank you for your ongoing partnership on so many issues of consequence.
06:00In particular, we've been shoulder to shoulder in the work of oversight of our carceral settings, our prisons, our jails, our detention facilities.
06:09And before I get started, I do just again want to reiterate that if you care about mass incarceration, you should care about mass deportation.
06:18If you care about mass deportation, you should care about mass incarceration.
06:22This is not only the grave injustice that Romesa, Mahmoud, Mohsen, and many more have experienced is not only inhumane and cruel, but incredibly profitable.
06:34These are facilities owned by corporations.
06:39And in the same way that those private prisons benefit from mass incarceration, these private detention centers, facilities benefit from mass deportation and incarceration.
06:54So I did just want to name that.
06:57You know, y'all, I don't know if I can stick to my remarks here because I'm just overwhelmed.
07:03One, Romesa's home.
07:06And two, the Celtics won.
07:08But, you know, seriously, just bringing a little levity because we're long overdue for some joy.
07:15The second I saw Romesa, I just exclaimed loudly, my sister.
07:21I felt an immediate kinship with her.
07:24And as we approach Mother's Day, it is important that, and I think the public outcry and the rallying has been a testament to the fact that we see
07:33Romesa as our sister.
07:36We see Romesa as our daughter.
07:39And that is, in fact, how a community should rally and see one another when a harm is done to anyone.
07:45Because we are one human family, and our destinies are truly tied.
07:50I was also excited to be able to gift Romesa with a polished stone with the word hope engraved that I had been carrying for weeks.
08:01I had two stones with me when we went to rule.
08:04We welcome you home with open arms.
08:09We never forgot about you.
08:12You are loved.
08:13You are seen.
08:14And we will not rest until you are fully exonerated.
08:18Your visa is restored.
08:20And you are free to continue your studies and your service to our community.
08:24But let us also be clear, this fight is not over.
08:27Romesa is released on bail, but her deportation proceedings continue.
08:32So while we take stock of this important victory, made possible because of the dedicated people behind me and thousands more because of public outcry, we are clear-eyed about the work that remains.
08:46To everyone who has stood with Romesa, who has spoken out, who has joined in this fight, in Congress, in the courts, and in community, thank you.
08:52We would not be here today if it weren't for you.
08:54Our work is not done, but we are stronger together.
08:59Throughout my time in public life, I've had the privilege and emotional honor throughout these years to say these two words to many people upon their return from prisons, jails, and detention facilities.
09:17Welcome home.
09:18Welcome home.
09:21And now we'll hear from Jessie.
09:23My name is Jessie Rossman.
09:24I'm the legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts.
09:29I know I speak for everyone here when I say that there is no place that I would rather be than standing here right now, next to Romesa, that she has finally come home.
09:44Yesterday, our witnesses testified that Romesa is truly irreplaceable to the Tufts community, and we are so grateful that she is back where she belongs.
09:57Of course, as you have heard, and as we have been saying for six and a half weeks, this never should have happened in the first place.
10:05Romesa never should have been arrested.
10:08She never should have been whisked 1,300 miles away in a cloud of secrecy.
10:14She never should have been detained for one day, let alone six and a half weeks.
10:20The government's unlawful actions have harmed Romesa, her family, her friends, and the entire Tufts community.
10:29It is a violence to rip someone away from her home for no reason, no justification, except the lawful expression of her home.
10:44Good afternoon.
10:47We are heartened by Judge Sessions' strong decision in support of the rule of law and Romesa's release.
10:56We look forward to continuing to press her case, not only in immigration court, but in federal court, because that's the right thing to do.
11:05There have been enormous government resources expended on detaining someone unjustly, not only Romesa.
11:12Happy day.
11:13So it's really great to see you.
11:15My name is Carol Rose.
11:16I'm the Executive Director at the ACLU of Massachusetts.
11:20And on behalf of the ACLU and the Commonwealth, we are overjoyed that Romesa is here with us,
11:28and we're so happy to welcome her back to Massachusetts.
11:30So welcome home, Romesa.
11:32Thank you so much.
11:34You know, we know that the fight to protect and preserve our democracy requires all of us to do our jobs.
11:41And Romesa's release makes clear that we all have a crucial role to play in saving our democracy.
11:49Her bravery and spirit, including her willingness to speak out on behalf of other people who are in the detention center,
11:56has sparked something in all of us.
11:59Her courage is contagious.
12:02And we've seen the courage of Romesa's lawyers and her many advocates who worked without rest to secure Romesa's freedom.
12:09And I can attest that it didn't matter what time it was, whether it was 6 a.m. or 10 p.m. or even 4.37 a.m. when one of the briefs was filed.
