WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
Dear Cambridge and Somerville Constituents —
This morning, I was having a joyful day at the State House, welcoming the 4th graders from Cambridge's Morse School to the House Chamber, when I started seeing reports about the abduction of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts graduate student, SEIU 509 member, and Fulbright Scholar.
Öztürk is a Turkish national with a valid student visa. She had just exited her apartment last night in Somerville and was walking on the sidewalk with her friends, heading to an Iftar to break fast, when a team of masked federal agents approached her and forcibly took her into custody.
A recording from a nearby camera shows what happened — the video and audio is absolutely sickening. We use words like "horrified" a lot — but this is no hyperbole. This is beyond all horrors I ever could have imaged in this country.
WATCH: Video shows federal agents detaining Tufts student
I just came from Cambridge City Hall, where I did an interview with WCVB to express my indescribable anger and profound concern over this horrific act.
Tonight, I will be attending an emergency rally at 5:30PM at Powder House Park in Somerville to join with others in expressing my outrage.
It has been noted that Öztürk was active in the student movement to protest the war on Gaza. She called it a genocide, and it is thought these political statements were the reason she was targeted by the Trump Administration.
As I said to WCVB, our own U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has articulated a similar conclusion. Millions of Americans and people across our community feel the same way. Whether you agree with those conclusions or not — this is an assault on freedom of speech and academic freedom. A valid visa isn't a permission slip — holders of student visas are entitled to express their political views and are due the protections of the First Amendment.
Time does not allow me to continue elaborating on the different unsettling aspects of this developing situation. For now, I want to do what I can to help get the word out about tonight's 5:30 pm rally at Powder House Park.
Yours in service,
Rep. Mike Connolly
