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Dear John,
I was in third grade when the U.S. went to war with Iraq. I’ll never forget the look in my classmate’s eyes when he pulled me aside and whispered that he was Iraqi and that his family was being bombed. His voice trembled. He was terrified. Last Friday, I woke up with that same fear; only this time, it was my family. My people.
As a first-generation Iranian-American, I grew up straddling two worlds. I was born and raised in California, immersed in American life. But at home, Iran lived in our kitchen, in our stories, in the rhythms of everyday life. I spent weekends at my grandparents’ house, where breakfast meant black tea and lavash with feta, not bacon and eggs. While others waited for Christmas, we prepared for Nowruz.
I am both Iranian and American, yet I’ve rarely felt like I fully belong in either place. My identity floats between two nations that are often at odds, and my heart is caught in that tension: half rooted in a country I know, and half in a land I’ve never set foot in. This duality isn’t mine alone. It's a shared reality for many children of immigrants. We are the diaspora babies. Those who speak perfect English but still think in our native tongues. We are fluent in both privilege and pain. We live with the opportunities this country offers, while mourning what it has taken from our communities.
In the U.S., the persecution of people like us is nothing new. My father was deported in 1982. My mother spent years fighting to bring him back. She won, but the trauma left a scar that echoes through our family to this day. And still, families like ours continue to be detained, dehumanized, and deported. But amid the loss, my parents passed down something powerful: resilience . That inheritance lives in me now. It shapes who I am, and it fuels the work I do at Alliance San Diego, where I fight every day for dignity, justice, and belonging.
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Alliance San Diego recognizes that in efforts to reach communities often overlooked in civic campaigns, we may not have fully acknowledged the unique fears, frustrations, and lived experiences of communities during this time when many feel vulnerable or unfairly targeted. We understand that words alone are not enough. We are committed to taking steps that reflect both humility and accountability as we move forward. With renewed awareness and a commitment to doing better, we will be moving forward in solidarity, but not alone.
Together with volunteers, community partners, and trusted organizations. We are organizing a community walk to share emergency planning information and resources that help individuals understand their rights and affirm their dignity, especially in situations where law enforcement practices have caused fear or unfair targeting. These are all compassionate actions rooted in care and community. If you're available to join our literature drop canvass, we welcome your participation. [[link removed]] Please complete this short form so we can prepare accordingly [[link removed]] . The volunteer effort will include a brief training, neighborhood outreach, and a reflective debrief session.
We appreciate your patience, your feedback, and your shared commitment to justice, dignity, and a democracy that includes all of us. Because even with a heart split in two, I still believe we can build a country where all of us belong.
In Solidarity,
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Tara Kaveh
Communications Project Director, Alliance San Diego
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Coalition partners who can offer support:
PANA [[link removed]]
CAIR [[link removed]]
Alliance for Africans [[link removed]]
United Taxi Workers [[link removed]]
Alliance San Diego
P.O. Box 12266
San Diego, CA 92112
United States
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