The Line between Canada and the US Cuts through the Haskell Free Library | The Walrus
thewalrus.ca
I grew up among its books. Now Trump has turned the cross-border landmark into a political battleground
  • floofloof@lemmy.ca
    21·
    2 months ago

    Donald Trump became president on January 20 this year. Ten days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement—ICE—was making a big show of enforcing Trump’s promise of mass deportations in the northeast, ostensibly paying tribute to a slain border patrol agent, which brought them and Kristi Noem to my little library.

    Noem, head of the agency responsible for border security as well as immigration and customs (including ICE), stood on the American side of the black tape that runs through the heart of the Haskell Free Library. “USA, number one,” she proclaimed.

    She stepped over the line on the floor, into Canada. “Fifty-first state,” she said. I picture her hopping across the border the same way I did when I was eight. I imagine her glee as something similarly childlike. A bully’s glee, delighting in provocation. Then she did it again. A performance.

    Kristi Noem is one of the most repellent and malign politicians in the USA. Her performances are disgusting. “A bully’s glee” is exactly it.

    • hddsx@lemmy.ca
      14·
      2 months ago

      Canada should have their own “emergency entrance” and should have arrested Noem when she crossed over into Canada without papers

      • James R Kirk@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
        13·
        2 months ago

        FTA:

        In response to the closure of the library entrance to Canadians—who represent at least half of the library’s clientele—the Haskell did what libraries do: found a way to serve its community anyway. It opened a back door, allowing all Canadians to continue to access the library via a small storage room, without crossing the border. Haskell also set up a fundraising drive to renovate this entrance and make it more accessible, asking for $100,000. In under two weeks, it raised $170,000 and counting. The library is essential. The community and the country at large are responding.

        • hddsx@lemmy.ca
          8·
          2 months ago

          Right.

          It was really more to say that if the Americans are being assholes, the Canadians should treat them the same