The Utah conductor Robert Baldwin – music director of Salt Lake Symphony and Professor of Music at University of Utah – has issued an appeal for the release of his former concertmaster John Shin, who is being held in a grim ICE dtention centre. Baldwin writes:
My former student, John Shin, has been detained by ICE. We need to be better than this, America!
When these raids and roundups began in January, we were told it would only be the violent criminals, murderers, and such. Well, here’s a former student and upstanding human being, a husband, father, and fabulous musician. He’s been here nearly his entire life. He is married to a US citizen. He has two degrees in violin performance from the U. He played concertmaster in both the Campus Symphony, the Utah Philharmonia, and graduate string quartet, all leadership roles. He has enriched the musical community after graduating, too, playing in the Salt Lake Symphony and Sinfonia Salt Lake, among others. I have relied on him as a valued member of those ensembles as have others.
Now, I don’t know. Maybe he has some parking tickets. Maybe he has a moving violation. BUT I’ve never known John to be anything but a dedicated, respectful human being. He was rounded up, detained, and only given a short phone call. What follows is the transcript from his wife, DaNae, also a former student at the U:
“I wish I could be thanking everyone for the birthday wishes and posting pics of our family spending time celebrating, but instead I received a phone call of my nightmares. On Monday, at 2:30pm I got a call from John– “Honey, I don’t have much time. I’ve been arrested by ICE and they are sending me to a detainment center. I love you and the kids, I will be okay, please call our attorney” and then he was rushed off the phone. I have no more details, no more information than those short 30 seconds. I’m shaking as I type this, l’ve been in shock, I’ve shattered, I’m so scared, I’m enraged and I’m reaching out to our community for help. John is not a criminal, he is an amazing husband, father, and person, and I will do whatever it takes to bring him back home.
As I sat in our attorney’s office yesterday, panicked and in tears, she took my hand and said, “Mi amore, now is not the time to cry, now is the time to fight back.” and so… that is what I will do.
She told me that what we need to do to win his case, is to gather as many letters attesting to John’s character, his meaning to the community, the good things he has accomplished. If you want to help, l’m begging to please donate to his legal fund, and/or to write a letter highlighting your relationship, what you know and appreciate about him as a person, his accomplishments and positive impact on his community. She said the more letters we have, the more likely we are to win, so please share this, and letters can be emailed to me at danaewshin@gmail.com.
I’ve been asked about formatting the letter. Since it has been just over 24 hours, we do not know who the judge is yet, so please address the letters formally with “Your Honor,” additionally, while we are all outraged and horrified she also advised me to ask that letters strictly stick to attesting to his character, his accomplishments, and his value to his community, and avoid any outrage, accusations of the administration (even though this is absolutely completely unjust and outrageous) and using respectful language. I’m so grateful for this incredible community we are a part of, and I will not give up hope that we can fight this, and win, so John can be released and come home.
Our attorney was able to find out his hearing is September 2, so I will be gathering as many letters and donations as possible until then. Our attorney’s detainer is $5,000, so I have linked his legal defense Go Fund Me here as well as my venmo @danae-shin. All donations will go towards his legal fees.
I’ve deleted and re-wrote this so many times, l’ve struggled to even function or find the right words, so please forgive my writing, but I know John is loved. I have faith that our community will rally around him, and that this nightmare will have a happy ending. I have to believe that. I love you all, thank you for your support, your friendship, your care, all the shoulders I have been crying on. Please know I would do the same for any of you, we have to stick together. Thank you so much for any help.”
I stand by John and DaNae and will do whatever is in my power to help them.
