ICE OUT: Split Lip, Epiphany, and Eckleburg Review Support the Immigrant Defense Project

On May 14, Split Lip Magazine co-hosted ICE OUT, an open mic event in Brooklyn, New York, alongside Epiphany and Eckleburg Review, to raise funds for the Immigration Defense Project, a NYC organization that provides legal and community defense resources to those terrorized by ICE. In these dark times, it was incredibly moving to see so many people come out in support of this important cause. We had a packed house! 

Throughout the evening, contributors and community members read their powerful work, much of which centered the evening’s theme, and afterwards the extraordinary DJ Roselle treated us to a fantastic musical set. The camaraderie, hope, and love in the room were nourishing to all, and we look forward to participating in more events like this in the future. Now is the time to come together as a literary community to support the causes that we care about.

Split Lip contributor and Epiphany EIC Sara Lippmann. Photo credit: Quinn Ochoa

We at Split Lip want to thank everyone who joined us at Starr Bar and donated to the Immigrant Defense Project. We are proud to have raised $1,044! We are grateful to Epiphany and its EIC Sara Lippmann (who is also a Split Lip contributor!) for organizing this event and including us and to Epiphany’s Ava Pauline Emilione for MC’ing the event.

Split Lip contributor Joshua Garcia reading his poems. Photo credit: Quinn Ochoa

Split Lip contributor Skyler Melnick reading her story. Photo credit: Quinn Ochoa

We would also like to recognize the Split Lip contributors who read their brilliant work (three of whom are also Epiphany contributors!): Skyler Melnick who read her flash fiction from Split Lip, “Marie, the Most Beautiful,” Joshua Garcia who read his poem (also from Split Lip), “North Star,” Quinn Franzen who shared his poem, “Guava Jelly,” and Christina Cooke who read an excerpt from her novel BROUGHTUPSY. Thank you for making this event memorable! And thank you to all the talented writers from the community who participated in the open mic and shared your beautiful words with us. The night was all the more special because of these readings from the literary community.

If you were unable to attend our event but would like to support the Immigrant Defense Project, you can still make a donation! And we also encourage you to support our friends at Epiphany and Eckleburg Review by subscribing to their excellent journals!

Split Lip contributor Christina Cooke reading from her novel. Photo credit: Quinn Ochoa

Split Lip contributor Quinn Franzen reading his poems. Photo credit: Quinn Ochoa