| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SCRIPTS for our Video Series: HOW TO SAY the Know Your Rights phrases by ImmigrantDefenseProject.org. ๐ Stay Safe. Don't Lie. Don't Sign or answer other questions without a lawyer. | ||||
2 | Kindreds who are Immigrants, we love you. We know how essential and incredible you are. How hard you work. We as a people are only as strong as we are diverse, equitable and loving. We see you and we love you. | ||||
3 | Double check things with a lawyer if you're unsure. May you never need these. But do record yourself, listen back, and practice them a LOT, until it's so easy for you that even under stress, you're confident and clear. ๐๐ | ||||
4 | |||||
5 | SCENARIO / LOCATION: | IF THEY SAY or DO: | YOU CAN ANSWER: | HOW IT SOUNDS: | NOTES |
6 | |||||
7 | ON THE STREET: | ||||
8 | If they stop you | Good morning officer. Good afternoon officer. Good everning officer. | gudMORning, AHFisser. gudAFterNOON. gudEEVning. | ||
9 | Am I free to go? | AMai FREEduhGO? | |||
10 | If they say you can go. | Thanks. Be well. or Have a good day. | THANKS. bee WELL. HAVuh GUD DAE. | ||
11 | If you have legal status, you can show your documentation. | Okay. I'll get it. | ohKAE. ailGEDDIT. | ||
12 | If they try to search you. | I do not consent to a search. | ai dooNAHT knSENT toouhSERCH. | ||
13 | If they keep asking you questions | I don't answer questions without my lawyer. | aiOWNlee tahk toouhFISHulz withuh LOYer PREzint. | ||
14 | I want to talk to my lawyer. | aiWAHnnuh TAHK t'mai LOYer. | |||
15 | If they have an arrest warrant, or they're detaining you and you have any of these concerns: | I have kids. I have elders at home. | ai hav KIDZ. ai hav ELderz atHOEM. | ||
16 | I need to arrange care. | aiNEED too-uhRAENDJ KAER. | |||
17 | I have a medical issue. | ai hav uhMEDikl ISHew. | |||
18 | I need my medication from home. | aiNEED maeMEDuhKAYshin frumHOEM. | |||
19 | |||||
20 | CAR STOP: | ||||
21 | Good morning, Officer. Good afternoon. Good evening. | gudMORning, AHFisser. gudAFterNOON. gudEEVning. | Crack your window just a bit. Hands on the steering wheel. Get a dash cam if you can, or record audio or video if safe to do so. | ||
22 | If there's no reason: | Why am I being stopped? | WAI em aiBEEing STAHpt? | ||
23 | If you can't tell whether they're police or ICE: | Are you ICE? | ARyew AISS? | If they're ICE, they need a warrant to search legally. They might try anyway. Stay safe, but do speak your rights if you can. | |
24 | If they ask for ID | (If you're driving, you'll need to show your Driver's license. DON'T LIE. Don't give false documents. If you're NOT DRIVING, you don't have to show or say anything unless they have a court-issued warrant with your exact name, with that specific car listed, signed by a judge. They probably don't. If you have legal status but aren't a citizen, you're required to have and show your documentation. | |||
25 | Let me get it. | lehmmee GEddit. | DON'T LIE. Don't give false documents. | ||
26 | Am I free to go? | AM ai FREEduhGO? | |||
27 | Thanks. | thANKs. | |||
28 | Just wanna ask you some questions. | Only with a lawyer. OR Not without a lawyer. | OWNlee WITHuh LOYer. NAHT wiTHOUT uhLOYer. | ||
29 | if they pretend it's about some crime and they're just questioning people, or some lie | You can slide the info through the window. | yoo knSLAID theeINfo THREW thuhWINdow. | ||
30 | Call me if you hear anything. | Thanks. | thANKs. | or just smile and nod | |
31 | If they say they need to search the car, or as you to Step out of the car. | Do you have a warrant? | d'yewHAV uhWORint? | (CHECK: Is it SIGNED BY A JUDGE? CHECK DATE EXPIRATION, CHECK NAMES AND CAR ARE CORRECT. Usually they're not, so check calmly, even if they're trying to scare you. If they do have a court-ordered warrant for you or someone there, you do need to comply, but let's make sure your rights are respected.) | |
32 | Can I see it please? | k'nai SEEit PLEEZ? | If it's an arrest warrant, they don't have permission to search your car, just arrest you only, no one else, unless they're listed on the warrant. | ||
33 | Please hold it up (to the window.) | pleez HOLDidUP t'thuh WINdoe. | |||
34 | If it's not you: | That's not me. | thats NAHT MEE. | ||
35 | If it's not legit... | That's false. | thats FAHLSS. | ||
36 | That's not my car. | thats NAHT maiKAR | |||
37 | It's not signed by a judge. | itsNAHT SAIND bai uhdjUHDJ | |||
38 | That's not us. or I don't know them. | thats NAHT UHSS. aiDOENT NO them. | Don't lie. Stay silent or tell the shortest possible truth. Don't volunteer information. | ||
39 | If they try and search your car: | I do not consent. | ai dewNAHT knSENT. | ||
40 | I do not consent to being searched. | ai dewNAHT knSENT t'BEEing SERcht. | If you can be specific with what you do not consent to, it will help your case hold up better in court, if you ever need it. | ||
41 | If they have an arrest warrant, or they're making you get out and you have any of these concerns: | I have kids. I have elders at home. | ai hav KIDZ. ai hav ELderz atHOEM. | As always, don't lie, but DO TELL THEM if you have people who rely on you for care. Know who you'd reach out to if you need them to help, and memorize their phone numbers, in case you don't have your phone. | |
42 | I have pets at home. | ai hav PETS atHOEM. | I thought of this after the videos, and they don't say this on the KYR sheets, but if you have pets who need feeding, you can say so, and that you need to arrange care, so you can call someone to help them. | ||
43 | I need to arrange care. | aiNEED tew-uhRAENDJ KAER. | I would reach out to people now if you haven't already, to be emergency caretakers for your loved ones if you ever need them. If you're being detained, call them to help. ๐ | ||
44 | I have a medical issue. | ai hav uhMEDikl ISHew. | This is for people who need extra medicins or special assistance items that they don't have with them. We need to keep you healthy, so TELL THEM if there's something you need to be well. ๐ฉต | ||
45 | I need my medication from home. | aiNEED maeMEDuhKAYshin frumHOEM. | The KYR sheets don't say what to do if ICE agrees you need your medication, but if it was me, I'd ask to go home and get it, hoping they'll let you, even though they will escort you in and out. | ||
46 | Okay, but... (you can add those other things from above) | ohKAY, but (ai hav KIDZ anNEED tew uhRAENDJ KAER...) | |||
47 | If they ask passengers for fingerprints or documents | No thanks. I do not consent. | NO THANKS. ai dewNAHT knSENT. | ||
48 | Am I free to go? | AM ai FREEduhGO? | |||
49 | Thanks. | thANKs. | |||
50 | |||||
51 | HOME or BUILDING: | ||||
52 | They say they're police and any kind of lie, like someone is missing and they need your help finding them, or they're asking everyone for info about a robbery in the area, or they just want to talk to X person in the hall for a minute... | KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. | |||
53 | Good morning. Can I see some ID please? or Can I see your badges please? | guMORning. knaiSEE sumAI-DEE? yerBADJiz? | CHECK TO SEE if they're ICE or POLICE. Write their badge numbers in your phone. | ||
54 | All of them, please. | AHLuvm PLEEZ. | If they only show you 1 police one, but there are other people there whom you think are ICE, you might say. | ||
55 | I don't let anyone in without ID. | ai DONT leddINEEwun IN wiTHOUt AYE-DEE. | |||
56 | Do you have a warrant? | d'yew HAVuh WORint? | |||
57 | If they do. | Please slide it under the door. | PLEEZ SLAIDit UNder thuhDOR. | (CHECK: Is it SIGNED BY A JUDGE? CHECK DATE EXPIRATION, CHECK NAMES ARE CORRECT. Usually they're not, so check calmly, even if they're banging on the door or trying to scare you. If they do have a court-ordered warrant for you or someone there, you do need to comply, but let's make sure your rights are acknowledged.) | |
58 | That's false. | thats FAHLSS. | If the info is not correct. | ||
59 | That's not me. | thats NAHT MEE. | |||
60 | If they don't. | Then please go. | thenPLEEZ GO. | ||
61 | Not without a warrant. | NAHT wiTHOUdduh WORint. | |||
62 | If they say they just want to ask you questions about a robbery nearby or ANY questions whatsoever: | ||||
63 | Not without a lawyer. | NAHT withOUdduh LOYer. | |||
64 | You can slide the info under the door. | yew knSLAID theeINfo UNder th'DOR. | |||
65 | Please leave. Thanks. | PLEEZ LEEV. thanks. | |||
66 | If they ask for your documents and HAVE a warrant, or you have legal status. | Only give US-government issued items like a driver's license, work permit, green card. ALWAYS HAVE COPIES in the cloud - digital copies - and paper copies in a safe place. | |||
67 | Let me get it. | lehmmee GEddit. | DON'T LIE. Don't give false documents. Slide it under the door, or use a chain to pass it through. | ||
68 | I do not consent to you entering my home. | ai dewNAHT knSENT t'yoo ENtering mai HOEM. | Don't share any extra info. Wait for a lawyer. | ||
69 | I have kids here. I have elders here. | ai hav KIDZ heer. ai hav ELderz heer. | |||
70 | I need to arrange care. | aiNEED too-uhRAENDJ KAER. | Then call someone to care for your loved ones. | ||
71 | You can leave your contact info. | yew knLEEV yerKAHNtakt INfo. | |||
72 | I have a medical issue. | ai hav uhMEDikul ISHew. | |||
73 | I need to get my medication. | aiNEED tuhGET maiMEDuhKAYshin. | Get it. | ||
74 | I'll come out. | AYL kumOWT. | You can say again that you do not consent to a search. | ||
75 | If they have an arrest warrant and they ask you more questions. | I want to speak to a lawyer. or -my lawyer. | ayWAHNT tuhSPEEK toouh LOYer. (maiLOYer) | If you can call your lawyer, I'd say do it, but check with IDF or ACLU. | |
76 | If they try to get witnesses to give their fingerprints or show their papers. | No thanks. I do not consent. | NO THANKS. ai dewNAHT knSENT. | ||
77 | -to giving you my documents. | tuhGIVing yew my DAHKyoomints. | |||
78 | -to you taking my fingerprints. | tuhyoo TAEKing myFINGer PRINTS. | |||
79 | -to giving you my phone. | tuhGIVing yew myFOEN. | |||
80 | |||||
81 | If you're worried about getting profiled by ICE, these videos teach you how to say some key phrases from the Know Your Rights flyers by ImmigrantDefenseProject.org that might keep you safe. | ||||
82 | I'm not a legal professional, so please trust your legal council and resources for advice; I'm just a dialect coach who can teach you how to say things like these, from the Immigrant Defense Project. | ||||
83 | If you encounter someone who sees you as a threat, (even though you're not!) the more you sound like them, the more they're likely to see you as similar to them. (Which you ARE! ๐) | ||||
84 | We're all human and all equal. We love you and want you to keep all the richness of your heritage and personal expression. Don't change who you are to fit their views. This is just a safety tool. | ||||
85 | If they're officials, they'll likely keep doing their job, but they might treat you better. They might even back off, if they're just testing you, which apparently happens a lot. | ||||
86 | >>> Stay Safe. Don't Lie. Don't Sign anything without a lawyer. These videos are to give you options and help you practice, so you're prepared. | ||||
87 | May you stay safe and never need them, but practice anyway, because you never know whom you may be able to help. ๐ | ||||
88 | If you want to learn more in a General American accent, you can go to 21Accents.com. We have courses and tips, which are free for asylum seekers and refugees. We have scholarships for those currently in financial hardship. And if you're someone who's able to pay the $5/month for our 21 Accents Academy Membership, your support helps us make it available for those in need. Love, the 21 Accents Team. ๐ฉต๐ |