Minneapolis, MN – El 2 de abril, activistas del movimiento inmigrante anunciaron el plan para una marcha grande el 1 de mayo, el Dia Internacional del Trabajador. La marcha empezara a las 2:00 pm en el parque Martin Luther King en la calle 41 y la avenida Nicollet. Los organizadores de la marcha dicen, “La lucha por una reforma migratoria comprensiva esta en un momento clave y vamos a hacer todo lo posible para tener la marcha mas grande que sea posible este ano para exigir la legalizacion e igualdad para todos. Los políticos en Washington DC están debatiendo sobre la reforma migratoria. AHORA es el momento para decir qué clase de reforma queremos: una legalización real para todos, derechos laborales e igualdad, y un fin a las redadas, deportaciones y a la discriminación.”
Washington, D.C. – Tens of thousands of immigrants and supporters converged on the mall here, March 21. You can read the editorial from Fight Back! that was distributed at the rally in Spanish ( online / printable PDF) or English ( online / printable PDF).
On to D.C. on March 21! Thousands of immigrants, supporters and activists will rally in Washington D.C. It’s time to demand legalization now for the 12 million undocumented in the U.S. The rally is important because it draws attention to the increased suffering of the millions of immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America. It comes at an important time where immigration reform legislation is being discussed in the U.S. congress. The rally will put pressure on President Obama and the U.S. congress to take action now – this spring – we cannot wait another year.
En el primer año de la nueva administración hubo cambio pero no progreso
Hace un año, los chicanos, mexicanos y centroamericanos celebraron el fin de ocho años de la administración de Bush. Además de lanzar dos guerras y provocar la mayor crisis financiera desde la Gran Depresión, la administración de Bush intensificó la represión contra los inmigrantes. Las redadas y deportaciones de los obreros por el Servicio de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE) se duplicó, y luego se duplicó nuevamente con Bush. El gobierno de Bush implementó el programa conocido como 287(g), en el que ICE trabaja junto con la policía local y permite que racistas como el alcalde Joe Arpaio de Arizona hostigue a los chicanos, mexicanos y centroamericanos. La ley de octubre de 2006 “Secure Fence Act” intensificó la militarización de la frontera con México, contribuyendo a la muerte de más inmigrantes intentando entrar a los Estados Unidos.
Chicago, IL – Over 1000 young, undocumented immigrants and supporters gathered at Union Park here, March 10, followed by a march to “come out of the shadows.” This kick-started a national week of action for immigration reform that will lead up to a protest in Washington, D.C. on March 21. Immigrant rights protesters chanted, “Undocumented and unafraid!” as they were making their way towards Federal Plaza.
Saint Paul, MN – On March 10, a bill that would allow immigrants to get drivers licenses in Minnesota passed its first hurdle in a key vote. By a vote of 8-5-1, the “drivers license for all” bill, HF1718, passed the House Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Committee.
Saint Paul, MN – The struggle for immigrants to be able to get drivers licenses in Minnesota is gaining steam. The group leading the struggle is Mujeres en Liderazgo (Women in Leadership), a grassroots group of Latina immigrant women. They want the Minnesota legislature to allow anyone who lives in Minnesota to get a drivers license, regardless of their immigration status.
_Year One of the New Administration Saw Change but not Progress _
One year ago Chicanos, Mexicanos and Central Americans celebrated the end of the eight years of Bush administration. In addition to launching two wars and ushering in the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression, the Bush administration stepped up repression against immigrants. Raids and deportations of workers by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) doubled, redoubled and then doubled again under Bush. The Bush administration implemented the notorious 287(g) program, where ICE teamed up with local police and sheriffs allowed racists such as Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio to harass Chicanos, Mexicanos and Central Americans. The October 2006 “Secure Fence Act” stepped up the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border, contributing to the deaths of more and more immigrants trying to enter the United States.
Bloomington, MN – El lunes 23 de noviembre por la mañana, un grupo de activistas pro-inmigrante organizó una protesta al estilo del teatro popular para denunciar de forma dramática el racismo y la hipocresía de las redadas en contra de los inmigrantes latinos, separando familias y comunidades.
Bloomington, MN – On Monday morning, Nov. 23, a group of immigrant rights activists staged a guerrilla theater-style protest here to dramatically expose the racism and hypocrisy of immigration raids that target Latino immigrants, tearing apart families and communities.
St. Paul, MN – On November 14, immigrant rights activists in the Twin Cities confronted a “tea party” rally of about 40 right wing anti-immigrant extremists at the Minnesota State Capitol. The anti-immigrant “tea party against amnesty” was in opposition to immigration reform legislation that may be introduced soon in the U.S. Congress, which might provide legalization for some undocumented immigrants. The tea party organizers oppose any legalization and instead support repressive mass deportations of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the country. The anti-immigrant extremists gathered to hear speakers and held signs with messages such as “If You Are Illegal Go Home” and “Pack Their Sack and Send Them Back”.
Saint Paul, MN – 75 people gathered outside the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center, Nov. 1. The protest took place on Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to commemorate the more than 4000 immigrants who have died trying to cross the border into the U.S. from Mexico and the hundreds who have died in U.S. jails awaiting deportation. Día de los Muertos is widely celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans in the U.S. to remember loved ones who have died.
_Continues to Advocate for Rights of Undocumented Immigrants _
Flor Crisóstomo, a well-known organizer for the rights of immigrants and indigenous peoples, announced on Oct. 19 that she would leave her church sanctuary in Chicago to advance her advocacy and organizing for immigrants rights to a new stage.
In the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, leaders and organizers across the country are gearing up for the “They Say Cut Back, We Say Fight Back!” national conference planned for Oct. 3 in Chicago, Illinois. From California to New York, people who for the past years have been fighting back against cuts to programs that serve our communities, against home foreclosures and evictions and against plant closures will come together to share experiences and make plans to work together in the coming years.
Chicago, IL – Los aficionados del equipo de la liga mayor el Chicago Fire le mandaron un mensaje a los dueños del equipo de que los fanáticos no tolerarán el racismo por parte de los guardias de seguridad hacia los fanáticos latinos. El Sector latino es un grupo compuesto primordialmente por jóvenes mexicanos que apoya al Chicago Fire. Desde su fundación en 2005 han sido tratados diferente en comparación de otros grupos de aficionados en el Toyota Park, el estadio que alberga al Fire. Ellos se han quejado de inspecciones agresivas y de ser perseguidos por guardias de seguridad en el estadio.
San Jose, CA – El 2 de junio, 2002, miembros de la comunidad japonésa-americana se reunieron en el Yu-Ai-Kai (Centro de personas mayores japonésa-americanas) para aprender más sobre los ataques en contra de los árabe-americanos, los musulmán-americanos y los derechos civiles después del 11 de septiembre. Susan Hayase facilitó el programa por parte del Comité de organización Nihonmachi. En su presentación, dijo Hayase que “está pasando de nuevo,” destacando el vínculo entre los arrestos de los japonés-americanos después de Pearl Harbor y la detención de los árabe-americanos y los musulmán-americanos hoy día.
Chicago, IL – Cientos de estudiantes latinos de la Universidad de Illinois – Chicago (UIC) y de las escuelas secundarias de Chicago abarrotaron el Foro del 27 de octubre en la UIC para defender sus derechos a la educación. El evento fue una audiencia sobre el estatus de los latinos en la UIC auspiciado por la Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus (Camara legislativa latina).
The midterm elections represented a defeat of historic proportions for the Bush administration. They were a referendum on the war against Iraq. The American people voted ‘no.’ The Republican agenda of racism, inequality and reaction met with a setback. This is a moment to savor. It’s payback time for the politicians who left people to die on freeway overpasses in New Orleans and who are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands in Iraq.
El viernes, 1 de mayo, decenas de miles marcharon por los derechos de los inmigrantes alrededor del país. Las marchas y manifestaciones exigieron legalización de los indocumentados, un fin a las redadas y deportaciones, y el mantenimiento de la unidad familiar. Aunque más pequeñas que en años anteriores, llegaron una variedad de comunidades latinoamericanas. También llegaron varios miembros de sindicatos y miembros de las comunidades asiática y afroamericana.
![Immigrant rights activists hold banners to oppose the anti-immigrant message](https://i.snap.as/WkPu3pu3.jpg "Immigrant rights activists hold banners to oppose the anti-immigrant message Immigrant rights activists make their presence felt in opposition to the anti-immigrant \\"tea party\\". \(Fight Back! News/Staff\)")
