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March 15 Washington D.C. Press Conference for May 1st

Last week members of the National Coordinating Committee of the National May 1 Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights held a very successful press conference with over 12 media outlets attending the National Press Room in Washington , D.C. Following is a reportback from the conference with a plea for donations. We've already begun creating thousands of bi-lingual fliers with national and local information on May 1st activities by the coalition, held various press conferences and forums to build a united May 1st Boycott and we need your financial support. In addition, coordinated national actions against the raids and deportations are planned for March 25th.

You can keep abreast of all of the coalition's activities, see and join the endorsers' list and download fliers at www.maydaymovement.blogspot.com.

Donations to the National May 1 Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights can be sent to:

May 1st Movement
c/o United Teachers Los Angeles
3303 Wilshire Blvd., Fl-10
Los Angeles, CA 90010

Checks or money orders can be made out to:

May 1st Movement.
c/o United Teachers Los Angeles
3303 Wilshire Blvd., Fl-10
Los Angeles, CA 90010

D.C. Press Conference for May 1 Boycott
At the D.C. press conference Bishop Filipe C. Teixeira, OFSJC, Northeastern Diocese
of Saint Francis of Assisi,
Immigration Pastoral Center speaking on
New Bedford, Massachusetts raids
and the need for a May 1 Boycott in 2007.

Movement Leaders Announce
May 1 Actions for Immigrant Rights

By Namwiinga Simwiinga-Khumalo
and Heather Cottin
Washington, D.C.

The National May 1st Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights held a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on March 15 to announce plans for “A Day Of No Work, No Shopping, No School, No Economic Activity.” May 1 will be what the May 1st Movement has dubbed “The Great American Boycott II.”

At the news conference, labor activists, leaders of immigrant-rights groups, antiwar organizers, African American leaders, and representatives of Latino/a and Muslim organizations called for an end to the terrorist attacks, raids and deportations against immigrants nationwide. The press conference was organized and chaired by Teresa Gutierrez, a leading representative of the May 1st Coalition for Immigrant Rights based in New York.

Bishop Felipe C. Teixeira of the Immigration Pastoral Center in Massachusetts said that the recent anti-immigrant raids in that state had shown “the face of racism and discrimination. No human being is illegal.” Teixeira spoke of the children’s cries after the Nazi-like raids by Immigration Custom Enforcement who hauled away women workers in New Bedford, Mass. The bishop said the number of children left motherless was much greater than the news media reported. He called for a bigger May 1 protest, saying, “Together, united, we can defeat the imperialism of the USA.”

Emma Lozano of the Chicago immigration rights group Centro Sin Fronteras, which is supporting the right of sanctuary for Elvira Arellano, urged immigrants to use their economic power. “They don’t question us when we spend our money. They question our right to work,” she said. “We will hurt them in their pockets,” Lozano continued. “This country has exploited undocumented labor for over a century and grown rich off of it. We are not asking for anything. We are demanding our rights.”

Organizing for the Great American Boycott II is intensifying all over the country in the face of growing ruling-class hostility toward immigrant workers. Homeland Security has deported over 200,000 people in the last year. Thousands of immigrant parents and children are in jail.

The National May 1st Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights, whose formation was announced at a Feb. 4 conference on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles, has mounted a counterattack against this racist policy, focusing on the May 1 mobilization.

Those who participated in the massive marches in the spring of 2006—which were victorious in defeating HR 4437, the Sensenbrenner bill—are gearing up for another nationwide strike to stop the vicious attacks against immigrants.

Javier Rodriguez, national coordinating committee member who initiated the press conference, said that “mass demonstrations are scheduled for May 1 in cities across the country including: Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York City, San Antonio, Houston, Seattle, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Providence, R.I., Elizabeth, N.J., Hempstead, N.Y., and many other locations. This broad participation is an indication of the growing unity among U.S. and foreign-born workers.”

At the March 15 news conference, Boston school-bus driver union leader Steve Gilles said all workers are hurt by government policies that divide U.S. and foreign-born workers. “The government is working with capital to break unions and lower wages.”

Representatives from the Food and Commercial Workers, which represents the workers at the Smithfield, N.C., hog processing plant hit with anti-immigrant raids in December, expressed full support for the boycott.

Debanuj Dasgupta of Queers for Economic Justice spoke on the devastating impact of anti-immigrant attacks on over 1 million lesbian/gay/bi/trans people without documents.

John Parker, an African American leader in the March 25th Movement in Los Angeles, called for “Black and Brown unity,” and spoke about how centuries of exploitation and oppression unite Black people and immigrants of color.

Troops Out Now Coalition leader LeiLani Dowell spoke of the war abroad and the war at home, calling on anti-war activists to support the May 1 action.

Day laborers from Freehold, N.J., and Freeport, Long Island, N.Y., spoke of their right to work unmolested, saying, “We are not criminals.”

May 1 events in solidarity with immigrants in the United States have also been called by the workers’ movements in Venezuela, Mexico and the Philippines.

Donations

    Donations are urgently needed!
    Please consider making a generous contribution to continue this important work.
    Donations can be made on-line or by making checks/money orders payable to "National May 1 Boycott" and mail to the address below.

Contact

Organizing Centers


    Mexico
    Tijuana
    Tuesday, May 1
    5:00 pm - Rally/March - Las Brisas Shopping Center, Blvd. Diaz Ordaz

    Workers Information Center, Cittac
    011-52-664-622-4269 • maquilatijuanasandiego@earthlink.net



    Arizona
    Tucson
    Tuesday, May 1
    8:00 am - Gather SouthGate 3300 S. 6th Ave (6th Ave & 44th St)
    9:00 am - March to Downtown Tucson
    12:00 pm - Rally at Armory Park 220 S 5th Ave

    Tucson May 1st Coalition
    PO Box 1286
    Tucson AZ 85702
    520-770-1373 • may1@iactucson.org mayday2007.iactucson.org
    Download flyers in Español and English


    California
    Davis
    Tuesday, May 1
    UC Davis Campus, Memorial Union Patio
    11-12:00 - Rally at MU patio with musicians and performers
    11:30 am - Solidarity Walk Out. Congregate at MU patio
    12:00 pm - March

    Davis Students Against War Resource
    dsawresource@gmail.com
    http://daviswiki.org/UCD_May_1%2C_2007:_Day_of_Action

    Los Angeles
    Tuesday, May 1
    12:00 pm - March at the beginning of Olympic & Broadway

    National May 1st Movement for Worker & Immigrant Rights
    5274 West Pico Blvd. #203
    Los Angeles CA 90019
    323.702.6397
    Download flyers in Español and English

    Modesto
    Tuesday, May 1
    10:00 am - Rally - Corner of Crows Landing & Hatch Rds.

    www.modestobrownberets.com/cms
    contact@modestobrownberets.com
    www.aztlanrising.com
    contact@aztlanrising.com
    Download flyers in Español/English

    Romoland
    Tuesday, May 1
    5-8:30 pm - corner of 2nd St. and Highway 74

    m_rose_d@hotmail.com

    San Diego
    Tuesday, May 1
    3:00pm - March/Rally - Corner of Park and A

    Si Se Puede Coalition
    619-309-7435 • davidschmidt2003@hotmail.com

    San Francisco
    Tuesday, May 1
    12:00 pm - Dolores Park in the Mission District
    1:00 pm - Grand March for Unconditional Amnesty to the Civic Center

    Movimiento Por Una Amnistia Incondicional/Movement for an Unconditional Amnesty
    415.287.0749
    AmnistiaSF@gmail.com

    San Francisco
    Tuesday, May 1
    7-9:00 pm - Mission & 24th Streets - Candlelight Vigil for Unconditional & General Amnesty

    Barrio Unido


    Colorado
    Denver
    Tuesday, May 1
    10:00 am - Lincoln Park

    Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)
    1212 Mariposa St; Suite 5
    Denver, CO 80204
    303.893.3500 • julien@coloradoimmigrant.org www.coloradoimmigrant.org


    Illinois
    Chicago
    Tuesday, May 1
    10:00 AM – Plantón/Rally – Union Park [Ashland Ave. and Washington St.]
    12:00 PM – Marcha/March – Randolph St., Desplaines St., Jackson Blvd., Columbus Dr.
    2:00 PM – Plantón/Rally – Grant Park [Balbo Dr. and Columbus Dr.]

    March 10th Movement
    1638 S. Blue Island Ave
    Chicago, IL 60608
    877.762.7242
    Info@movimiento10demarzo.org


    Kentucky
    Louisville
    Tuesday May 1

    5-7:00 pm - Rally/March - Gene Snyder Courthouse to Jefferson Park

    The Kentucky May Day Coalition
    859-685-0387
    www.kccir.org
    Download flyers in Español and English


    Massachusetts
    Boston
    Tuesday May 1

    4:00 pm - Rally/March - Boston Common

    Boston May Day Coalition
    617.290.5614 • info@bostonmayday.org
    www.bostonmayday.org

    Chelsea
    Tuesday May 1

    2:00 pm - March from Everett City Hall
    3:00 pm - March from Chelsea City Hall
    4:00 pm - Rally in Central Square, East Boston

    Chelsea Collaborative
    300 Broadway Chelsea, MA 02150
    617.889.6080 • mail@chelseacollab.org
    www.chelseacollab.org
    Download flyers in Español/English


    Michigan
    Detroit
    Tuesday May 1 - Time/Place - TBD

    Latinos Unidos/United de Michigan (LUUM)
    Rosendo Delgado - 313.887.1849
    Ignacio Meneses - 313.587.9285
    Elena Herrada - 313.974.0501
    www.luum.org
    Download flyers in Español and English


    Minnesota
    Minneapolis
    Tuesday May 1

    4:00 pm - March - Lake St. & Nicollet St.

    MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition (MIRAC)
    651.389.9174
    www.MNImmigrantRights.net
    Download flyers in Español/English
    Download Posters in Español and English


    Nevada
    Las Vegas
    Tuesday May 1

    7:00 pm - US Federal Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. S.

    United Coalition for Immigrant Rights
    740 N. Eastern Avenue, Suite 110
    Las Vegas, NV 89101
    ucir_lv@yahoo.com


    New Jersey
    Elizabeth
    Tuesday May 1

    11:00 am - Warinanco Park
    Mass Meeting

    NJ May 1 Coalition
    973-736-0522 • info@njmay1.org
    www.njmay1.org


    New York
    Buffalo
    Tuesday May 1
    3:00 pm - McKinley High School on Elmwood Avenue
    Marching to a Speakout at Elmwood and Bidwell
    Car caravan from there to City Hall

    Buffalo/WNY International Action Center
    iacbuffalo@action-mail.org

    New York City
    Tuesday May 1
    4:00 pm - Rally & March
    Union Square Park, 14 St. & Broadway
    Marching to Federal Plaza/ Foley Square
    (Site of the African Burial Ground)

    NYC May 1 Coalition
    55 W 17th St.
    New York, NY 10011
    646.291.2778 • www.may1.info>
    Download flyers in Español and English


    North Carolina
    Charlotte
    Tuesday May 1

    4:00 pm - Central Ave & The Plaza
    gather in front of the Harris Teeter to show our support for the Justice at Smithfield Campaign being waged by workers.
    The march will end at the vigil called by Communities for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
    6:00 - Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center
    600 E. 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
    Contact: Ruben Campillo, (704) 531-3848

    May 1st Charlotte Movement for Workers & Immigrants Rights
    704.492.8527 • may1charlotte@gamil.com
    www.may1charlotte.info

    Raleigh
    Tuesday May 1

    5-7:00 pm Rally - State Capitol

    North Carolina Justice Center
    919.856.2178 • dani@ncjustice.org
    ncimmigrants.blogspot.com


    Pennsylvania
    Pittsburgh
    Tuesday May 1

    5:00 pm - Rally/March - Allegheny County Jail, 2nd Ave.
    Marching to Mellon Square Park, 6th Ave.

    Pittsburgh Friends of Immigrants


    Texas
    San Antonio
    Tuesday May 1

    12:00 pm - Rally - Milam Park
    6:00 pm - March

    Southwest Workers Union
    210.299.2666
    www.swunion.org
    Download flyers in Español/English


    Washington
    Yakima
    Tuesday May 1

    3:30 pm - March - Miller Park

    Grupo Comunitario por Justicia y Derechos de los Inmigrantes
    509.457.5867 or 509.930.6532


    Wisconsin
    Madison
    Tuesday May 1

    12:00pm - Rally/March - Capitol to Brittingham Park

    Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes
    Immigrant Workers Union
    608.345.9544 or 608.446.3656
    uti.madison@gmail.com
    www.uniondetrabajadores.org
    download flyers in Español or English

    Milwaukee
    Tuesday May 1

    Un Dia Sin Latin@s/A Day Without Latin@s
    Estatal Marcha por Derechos Civiles y Boicot/Statewide Civil Rights March & Boycott
    12:00 pm - Voces de la Frontera, 1027 S. 5th St.

    Voces de la Frontera
    Wisconsin Legalization Coalition
    414.643.1620 • vocesdelafrontera@sbcglobal.net
    www.vocesdelafrontera.net
    download flyers in Español/English

Endorsers

    • Adelberto Central Methodist Church
    • Alianza Nueva Nacion de Guatemala en Los Angeles
    • Angelica Salas, Director - Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los
      Angeles (CHIRLA)
    • Association Tepayac de New York
    • BAYAN-USA
    • Border Social Forum
    • Boston May Day Coalition
    • California Peace & Freedom Party
    • Centro Obrero, Michigan
    • Chris Silvera, Secretary Treasurer Local 808 Teamsters
    • Comite Pro-Amnistia y Justicia Social
    • Cynthia McKinney, former member of Congress
    • Elvira Arellano in Sanctuary Adalberto Church Chicago
    • Emma Goldman Chapter of SDS/MDS
    • Emma Lozano-Centro Sin Fronteras
    • Fr. Luis Barrios, San Romero de Las Americas Church
    • Frantz Mendes, Pres. USW L. 8751, Boston School Bus Drivers
    • Hermandad Mexicana Nacional-California-Nevada
    • Industrial Workers of the World
    • International Action Center
    • Korea Truth Commission - U.S.
    • Latinos Against War
    • LUUM-Latinos Unidos de Michigan
    • March 25th Coalition LA
    • May 1st Coalition-New York
    • MLK Jr. Bolivarian Circle, Boston
    • Most Rev. Filipe C Teixeira, OFSJC
      Northeastern Diocese of Saint Francis of Assisi, CCA
      Immigration Pastoral Center, Inc Massachusetts
    • Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
    • N.J. Civil Rights Defense Committee
    • NALAAC-National NGO Florida Convention
    • New England Human Rights Organization for Haiti
    • Northern California May 1 Coalition
    • Puerto Rican Alliance
    • San Romero de Las Americas Church-UCC
    • Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas-SME (Mexican Electrical Workers Union)
    • South Asian Network
    • Southwest Workers Union-San Antonio
    • Troops Out Now Coalition
    • UNION DE JURISTAS DE MEXICO
    • Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes
    • Union of Progressive Iranians
    • United American Indians of New England
    • United Front for Affordable Housing
    • US-Cuba Labor Exchange
    • Workers World Party
    • World Can't Wait


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