The Immigrant Rights Benefit Concert drew significant crowds to the Russell House backyard on Sunday, Oct. 5 to listen to live music, raise money for an immigration advocacy organization, and enjoy the warm October weather. The concert, which was organized by the Wesleyan Democrats (WesDems) and the Wesleyan Refugee Project (WRP), lasted over four hours.
The concert featured 10 student-led bands, and, in addition to donations, members of WesDems ran a bake sale to raise money for Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), a non-profit organization in New Haven, Conn. IRIS helps refugees and immigrants resettle and integrate into communities by providing services such as housing, employment assistance, healthcare, legal support, and education. According to their website, IRIS’s mission is “to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, strengthen hope, dare to dream, and contribute to the vitality of communities in Connecticut and across the country.”
The organization also facilitates school enrollment for children, provides English language classes, offers resources such as a food pantry, and assists with the adjustment of status and citizenship processes. In total, the concert raised $1,600 for IRIS.
The concert came in the midst of the Trump administration’s push to increasingly wield the power of the federal government against immigrant populations across the nation, claiming to solely target illegal immigrants. In reality, however, the administration has operated with dangerous speed and scope, drawing the ire of both the administration’s political opposition and the nonpartisan federal judiciary. In dozens of court cases, plaintiffs have challenged the legality of the administration’s actions, arguing that the federal agencies that have participated in immigration enforcement have violated human rights law as well as the constitutionally afforded right to due process, among other charges. Lower court judges, including judges appointed by Trump himself, have largely ruled against the Trump administration, while the Supreme Court has appeared more sympathetic.
“As the summer was progressing and the Trump administration was cracking down more and more on immigrant communities across the country, my friends and the Wesleyan Democrats were infuriated and emotional,” one of the concert leaders, Xander Starobin ’27, said. “We wanted to do anything we could to rally Wesleyan around this crucial issue and to support people who are vulnerable right now in a terrifying time.”
During planning, WesDems student leaders contacted various bands across campus. The concert featured various genres, from bluegrass to a Bruce Springsteen cover band. Student leaders also reached out to many different clubs and coalitions, including the WRP, which co-hosted the concert.
“One step after another, I just began putting this together,” Starobin said. “I reached out to as many performance groups as I could from different corners of campus to try to bring different audiences, different styles, and diverse backgrounds. We’re super glad to be able to co-host this event with the Wesleyan Refugee Project. I began to reach out to some friends to bake some things we could sell to raise more money. It was a team effort all the way through. It’s been a smashing success so far.”
Attendees enjoyed the various bands, baked goods, and activities such as spikeball.
“This has been a really awesome event,” attendee and WesDems member Lane Joslin ’28 said. “I’m really happy with how it turned out. This is a pretty awesome turnout. It feels awesome to be part of a movement that’s in solidarity with immigrants, especially with the immense assault on democracy and immigrant rights. And [IRIS] is an awesome organization that we’re donating to.”
Performers echoed these sentiments, with many staying after their performances to support the other bands, WesDems, and the WRP.
“I was really happy to be a part of the event,” Input Jack trumpeter Willow Barry ’28 wrote to The Argus. “I think having all the bands drew in a lot of different people. It helped spread awareness for IRIS, and all the good work they’re doing.”
In addition to their main focuses of workforce development and employment services, case management, youth mentorship and leadership, interpretation and translation services, and legal services, IRIS runs a variety of briefings, protests, and fundraisers in and around New Haven each month.
IRIS has historically received significant federal funding, but saw both a $3 million State Department grant and a $1 million Welcome Corps contract cancelled upon President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Since then, the organization has cut 20% of their workforce and closed its physical offices in Hartford and in New Haven’s East Rock neighborhood. IRIS will continue to operate out of its Education Center at 323 Temple St. (United Church on the Green Parish House) in New Haven. Additionally, its food pantry at 75 Hamilton St. in Fair Haven remains open, in partnership with the Community Soup Kitchen of New Haven.
Arya Dansinghani can be reached at adansinghani@wesleyan.edu.
Leave a Reply