Category Archives: Actions

ACTION: News Briefing on Rise in Hate Crimes

Posted on November 21, 2008 by | Leave a comment

stop_hate11This Monday, national civil rights organizations will hold a news briefing to denounce the rise in hate crimes affecting communities of color across the country.

Last Friday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m., members of the community held a candlelight vigil for Marcello Lucero at the Patchogue Train Station.

Calling it a “wake up call for America,” four national civil rights organizations will hold a joint news conference on Monday, November 24 to denounce the recent wave of brutal hate crimes against communities of color.

Representatives from NCLR, the Asian American Justice Center, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) will address the recent FBI report on the rise in hate crimes nationally, as well as a number of other incidents of hate during and since the election.

The event will include streaming video and telephonic dial-in capabilities.

WHERE:                  
Raul Yzaguirre Building
1126 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

VIDEO STREAM:  
www.nclr.org/risinghatecrimes

DIAL-IN:                  
(866) 835-8893

Read the complete WCBS-TV article:  www.wcbstv.com/topstories/hate.crime.bias.2.861881.html

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ACTION ALERT: Call your Senator and VOTE YES on HB 4613

Posted on November 20, 2008 by | Leave a comment

HB 4613 just passed the State Senate unanimously! The bill now heads to the House chamber for passage – however – the House has canceled its session for tomorrow. So it would need to go through the House very quickly this afternoon.

HB 4613 (which is virtually identical to the original bill, HB 2747) now heads to the House floor. We need a quick and furious round of calls *right away* to all of your State Representatives with a simple message: “Vote YES on HB 4613, the Access to Religious Ministry Bill!” For those reps and staff who ask for more information, please simply tell them that HB 4613 is virtually identical to HB 2747, which the House passed unanimously this May.

Please make these calls immediately to the *Springfield* office of your State Rep (not their district office).

If you do not know who your State Rep is or their number in Springfield, go here

Thank you for making these calls right away! For more information, please contact Salvador Cervantes, ICIRR Senior Organizer at 312-332-7360 x217.

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ACTION: Vigil for Ana Romero

Posted on November 20, 2008 by | Leave a comment

ana-romero

Candlelight Vigil for Justice for Ana Romero/Stop the Raids and Deportations

Friday, November 21, 2008      7:30 p.m.

Franklin County Regional Jail, 400 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40601

November 21 will mark three months since the tragic death of Ana Romero, an immigrant from El Salvador, while awaiting deportation in the Franklin County, Kentucky jail. Her death raises many questions of morality, decency, and the humane treatment of persons awaiting deportation. The mystery of how and why she died has not yet been resolved.

Join others in demanding justice and a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ana’s death .

Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (KCIRR)

justice@anaromero.org       www.anaromero.org       Phone: (859)685-0387

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SAVE THE DATE: You Should be Here on December 4th – Realizing the Promise

Posted on November 14, 2008 by | 3 Comments

December 4th – REALIZING THE PROMISE:

A Forum on Community, Faith & Democracy

What are you doing on December 4th between 3PM and 6PM? You should be watching the LIVE stream of the Realizing the Promise Forum, where more than 2,000 community leaders and organizers will come together in Washington, DC to speak directly to elected leaders about the shared agenda that we all must pursue to ensure that America finally works for everyone.

 

Continue reading →

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ACTION: Thanksgiving Luncheon, Celebrate the Immigrant Family

Posted on November 14, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Join the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition on Monday, November 24th for MIRA’s Thanksgiving Luncheon, Celebrate the Immigrant Family.  

When:  12:00 – 1:30 pm

Where: The Great Hall, The State House, Boston, MA

Celebrate the Immigrant Family brings together those who cherish their family’s immigrant story.  It is a moment of reflection and thanksgiving as we remember the sacrifices immigrants make to realize their American Dream. Last year over 400 people enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal while sharing with one another their family’s immigrant story. Below is a video from last year’s luncheon.

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ACTION: Attend the 6th Annual TIRCC Convention!

Posted on October 28, 2008 by | Leave a comment

At the 2008 TIRRC (Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition) Membership Convention guests will enjoy skill-building workshops about community organizing, policy and advocacy and a special workshop just for youth and young adults, among others. They will also have the opportunity to help design TIRRC’s campaigns for 2009 and truly fulfill this year’s theme “Communities in Action Making a Difference”.

The day will end with a Cultural Celebration for the whole community to enjoy with food and performers from all over the world.

Registration is free to all members and includes all Convention materials, attendance at general sessions and workshops, lunch and the Cultural Celebration.

November 15, 2008 — Bethel World Outreach Center, Brentwood, TN

To register for the Convention click here

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ACTION: United Colors of Mississippi Unity Conference

Posted on October 20, 2008 by | 1 Comment

The United Colors of Mississippi

The 2008 SCLC-MIRA Unity

Conference And Dinner

The Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will host the third annual United Colors of Mississippi unity conference next Thursday thru Saturday in Gulfport, MS.

The goal of this conference is to foster collaboration between Latino, Immigrant, African American, and Asian communities.  Speakers include Wade Henderson, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Ana Avendano, Associate General Counsel of the AFL-CIO, and Screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos of “Under the Same Moon”.

Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church,

4538 15th Street, Gulfport, Mississippi

 

Thurs- Sat., October 23-25, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to R.S.V.P. for this great conference!

For more information on the conference please feel free to contact Alisha Johnson at alishamira@bellsouth.net or Catherine Han Montoya at Montoya@civilrights.org.

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Spotlight: Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Posted on October 16, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Our partners at the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refuge Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) are doing some fantastic work right now. Below are some highlights. If you are in the area, join in the action!

 

Welcoming MA: Welcoming MA is having an exciting week of action this week to engage individuals across the state in Welcoming MA.

To learn about the more than 30 activities happening this week, please visit www.welcomingma.org or contact Ellen Gallagher or 617-350-5480 x217 with any questions.

MIRA needs your help!

We need your help to protect programs for the immigrant community including: Citizenship for New Americans, RISE (services for immigrant victims of violence), Adult Basic Education/English for Speakers of Other Languages, and Outreach and Education funding for health care.

Please contact Governor Patrick at (617) 725-4005, Secretary of Health and Human Services, JudyAnn Bigby at 617-573-1600 and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Suzanne Bump at 617-626-5680 to ask them to protect these programs for immigrant families. If you have any questions, please contact Carly Burton at the MIRA Coalition at cburton@miracoalition.org or call (617) 350-5480 ext 208.

 Help ensure acces to Higher Education!

The Campaign for Education Parity fights to ensure all MA high students, regardless of status, have equal access to in-state tuition rates at public colleges. Our next campaign meeting is Tuesday, October 21, at 5pm. If you are interested in attending this meeting or joining our efforts, please contact: Diana Bell dbell@miracoalition.org or (617) 350-5480 x207

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ACTION: Help Victims of the Raid in South Carolina!

Posted on October 15, 2008 by | 2 Comments

Since last Tuesday’s raid in Greenville, South Carolina, the details of what happened have been scarce. But, today I received an update on the situation in Greenville and I finally have information for those who want to help.

If you would like to help the families and victims whose lives have been torn apart by this raid you can send donations.

Catholic Charities has set up a fund for the families affected by the raid:

Check must be made to:
Catholic Charities Piedmont Region
Memo for the check: Humanitarian Immigration
P.O. Box 12, Greenville, SC 29602

It seems as though the investigation into Raeford Farms (the site of the raid) has been ongoing for 10 months. “It is believed that this investigation began after the publication of an article in the Charlotte Observer regarding working conditions at the plant. This article reported that of the most employees interviewed admitted that they were not authorized to work in the United States.”

At least 300 people were arrested in Tuesday’s raid. Witnesses say that workers were gathered in the break room and were told to divide up into two lines; one for men and the other for women. They were then asked to show their ID.

Of the 300 arrested, 58 have been released on “humanitarian grounds” and are forced to wear ankle bracelet monitoring devices.

Also, it has been reported that 6 of the workers arrested were under 18 years of age. According to ICE’s guidelines, undocumented juveniles who can’t be released into the custody of a trusted adult were handed over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

The Greenville community is still reeling from the raid. Latino restaurants and businesses are eerily empty and families are wondering how they will make ends meet.

Emilio Espinoza manages the Guatemala Restaurant in a strip mall with a grocery store, bakery and nightclub, all catering toward Hispanics.

His usually packed restaurant was empty at lunchtime Wednesday for the first time since he opened seven years ago. Half his employees didn’t show up because they were scared immigration agents might be in the area.

“People are afraid to leave their homes,” said the 35-year-old Espinoza.

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