Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Los Angeles Immigrant Rights May Day Conference States:

On to the May 1st Great American Boycott II

  • Stop the Raids & Deportations NOW!!

Conference formed the:
National Coordinating Committee of the
May Day National Movement for Workers and Immigrant Rights

(See Below for the Demands and Points of Unity Adopted)

In an historic development in the U.S. immigrant rights struggle, a coalition of national organizations met in Los Angeles on Feb. 3 - 4 to plan and coordinate the "Great American Boycott II" for May 1. Out of this formation came the National Coordinating Committee of the May Day National Movement for Workers and Immigrant Rights. That national body includes:


Chris Silvera, Secretary-Treasurer Local 808 Teamsters;
SEIU Local 721 - Latino Committee;
March 25 Coalition;
May 1 Coalition - New York
May 1 Coalition - Northern California;
UTLA Human Rights Committee;
Charles Jenkins, Transit Workers Union Local 100;
Latinos Unidos - Detroit;
Mexican Senator Jose Jacques Medina (PRD);
Che Lopez, Border Social Forum;
Southwest Workers Union;
Elvira Arellano - in sanctuary in the Chicago church of coordinating committee member Rev. Slim Coleman;
William Robinson, Professor of Sociology - University of Santa Barbara;
Father Ben Alforque - National Alliance for Filipino Concerns;
Father Luis Angel Nieto;
Bishop Teixera, Dorothea Manuela - New England Coalition for Immigrant Rights;
Kentucky Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform;
Puerto Rican Caucus;
World Can't Wait;
Troops Out Now Coalition;
BAYAN-USA;
Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation;
Clarence Thomas - Million Worker March Movement, ILWU Local 10 and executive board member of Alameda County Central Labor Council.

Called by the March 25 Coalition, initiator of the 2006 May Day actions that brought millions into the streets, the coalition aims to defend immigrant workers and show their power by bringing "business as usual" to a halt across the country on May Day.

A press conference and demonstration condemning the raids and kicking off the conference, called by the March 25 Coalition organizers on Feb. 2 outside the Los Angeles Federal Building, drew almost 100 people and much national and local press. Two Latina women from a local factory raided the previous day came and described the brutalization by ICE agents, who had held guns to the heads of workers.

Regarding the raids Chito Quijano, one of the speakers at the plenary sessions that began Saturday, Feb. 3 who is the national chair of BAYAN-USA and organizer with the California Nurses Association stated: "Sensenbrenner was the fire that fed last year's massive protest. This year, the raids will be the fuel."

A plenary on "Globalization of Immigrant labor and Transnational Capitalism" featured Teresa Gutierrez of the May 1 Coalition in New York and William Robinson, professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Robinson outlined the growth of immigration and repression in the U.S. over the last 30 years, pointing out that contemporary "transnational capitalism" makes the profits it needs to sustain its existence through the value produced by low-wage labor of immigrants. To keep those profits it must maintain economic, legal and cultural control of immigrant workers.

Gutierrez highlighted the use of racism to divide the working class and posed a crucial question: "How, given the repression against immigrants, can we sustain the magnificent movement begun May Day 2006, and bring unity to the immigrant rights struggle?"

Relating to this question, Javier Rodriguez, co-initiator of the March 25 Coalition said at a plenary: "This conference is significant because it is the first organized national effort to convene the major coalitions and groups that are more to the left, that initiated last year's May 1 boycott. This is the movement that will attempt to coalesce to establish a historical alliance of Latinos and African Americans. All the roots are here at this conference, with significant representation from both groups."

Part of that representation of African Americans came from Clarence Thomas, an intitiator of the Million Worker March , member of International Longshore Workers Union Local 10 and the Alameda County Central Labor Council's Executive Board. He paid homage to the country and people of Mexico for their support in the historical struggle against U.S. slavery, and called the absolute right of Mexicans to travel across the U.S.-Mexican border without reprisals. Thomas vowed to return to Local 10 to ask that it participate in May 1 in a "meaningful way," adding, "This is a rank-and-file movement, and that's what's keeping it afloat."

Chris Silvera, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 808 who has also been the president of the 400,000-member Teamsters Black Caucus was also an invited plenary speaker who led a workshop on Black-Brown unity.

International solidarity took on a big emphasis at this conference with a plenary featuring Pablo Franco Hernández of the Unión de Juristas de Mexico and attorney of Oaxacan political prisoners. In addition, Senator Jose Jacquies Medina of the PRD of Mexico also spoke at this plenary session.

A video message from Elvira Arellano brought forward the special oppression and resistance of women immigrant workers. Arellano, founder of La Familia Unida Latina, has been in sanctuary in Chicago for six months in defiance of threated deportation. She affirmed, "I am not a criminal. I am a mother and a father to my son. I fight so the undocumented people will be respected."

Demands and Points of Unity Include:

  • Stop raids and deportatoins
  • Government reconstruction and the right of return for Katrina survivors
  • Money for social services, not war
  • Stop & reverse militarization of the borders of the Americas
  • No to "free trade" agreements, including: NAFTA, CAFTA, FTAA & all FTAs imposed by U.S. transnationals
  • Immediate, permanent, non-revocable legal residence for all who live in the U.S.
  • Stop the Minutemen, KKK, Neo-Nazis and all racist organizations
  • Access to higher education for all undocumented students
  • Immediate Reunification of all families
  • No criminalization of those giving aid to immigrants
  • Full Legalization for All NOW
  • Equal Rights for All Workers Now
  • Jobs for All NOW

Statement from Conference:

NATIONAL MAY DAY MOVEMENT FOR WORKER &
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

May 1st, 2007 we will be out in the streets, not shopping or selling, if possible not working; but Marching. On February 3rd & 4th, 2007, a Conference hosted by the March 25th Coalition culminated in a call for a national day of actions for workers and Immigrant’s Rights on May 1st, 2007. During the two day conference, representatives from around the country came together in Los Angeles, California and agreed on a National Campaign to bring about true comprehensive immigration reform. From New England to the South West, from the South to the North West, people came together at the Loyola Law school to begin to map out a plan of action leading to May Day mobilizations. It was agreed that it was the unprecedented massive presence in the streets during 2006 that stopped the draconian and fascistic Sensenbrenner Bill from becoming the law of the land & that we need to be on the move again to further the cause of immigrant and workers rights.

People left Los Angeles unified and committed to building unity with other forces around the country around the need to once again have many millions of undocumented workers and their families partake in raising their voices along with the rest of the people in this country. This must take place in order to put an end to the intense raids and deportations taking place around the country, and stopping the President’s push towards guest workers programs which only benefit Corporations and enslave Immigrant workers.

This urgent & immediate need must be addressed as the first step towards achieving full legalization for the 12 to 20 million human beings living in the shadows and persecuted in this country while their labor and consumption is a cornerstone of this country’s economy. May 1 is the next necessary step towards a comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill that does not tear apart families or criminalize the millions of people who have been forced by globalization and the so called Free Trade agreements to leave their families, communities, country's of origin and ways of life, to risk their lives and come here to work

Behind a set of demands and Points of Unity which include:

  • Stop raids and deportations
  • Government reconstruction and the right of return for Katrina survivors
  • Money for social services, not war
  • Stop & reverse militarization of the borders of the Americas
  • No to "free trade" agreements, including: NAFTA, CAFTA, FTAA & all FTAs imposed by U.S. Trans nationals
  • Immediate, permanent, non-revocable legal residence for all who live in the U.S.
  • Stop the Minutemen, KKK, Neo-Nazis and all racist organizations
  • Access to higher education for all undocumented students
  • Immediate Reunification of all families
  • No criminalization of those giving aid to immigrants
  • Full Legalization for All NOW
  • Equal Rights for All Workers Now
  • Jobs for All NOW

it was agreed to hold a national press conference on a date yet to be determined as well as local activities leading up to a National boycott and Mobilizations on May 1st, 2007.




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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