August 2, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
Astoria’s newest performance venue will be holding a fundraising event this weekend for a group working to unite families separated at the southern border.
The Arc, located in the Kaufman Arts District, will host a benefit on Aug. 4 for Immigrant Families Together, a group started by a Long Island City mom that has helped to bail out 10 mothers detained in ICE detention centers, and reunite them with their children held in care centers across the country.
While the Trump policy to separate families is no longer in place, hundreds of parents have yet to be reunited with their kids, despite the July 26 reunification deadline placed on the administration.
The benefit, called “Sanctuary” is organized by DMNDR, the music media company behind The Arc, along with Slightly Altered States, a theater group, and includes live music from five bands, and theater adapted from letters written by detainees at detention centers, along with other performances.
“There is a feeling that this story has ended,” the organizers wrote on Facebook. “This story has not ended! It will be with us for a long time.”
The event at The Arc is free, and is meant to raise awareness about the group and encourage people to donate to the group through their online pages, a spokesperson for the organizers said.
The benefit is one of many being held across the city for Immigrant Families Together.
The benefit will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Arc, located at 36-35 35th St.
