!!!!!March For Immigrant Rights This Friday in Santa Cruz!!!!!

Did you hear about the huge protest in Chicago against HR 4437?

Check this out!

Chicago Witnesses Massive Protest for Immigrant Rights

On Friday, March 10, 2006, downtown Chicago saw a pro-immigrant march estimated at tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of people, all rousing opposition against the infamous anti-immigrant, pro-enforcement Sensenbrenner Bill.

Protesters carried hand-lettered signs saying "No Human Being is Illegal", "George Washington Was An Immigrant" "We are America," "My Mexican immigrant son died in Iraq," "I'm a dishwasher - not a criminal," and "Don't deport my parents."

The peaceful crowd stretched two and half miles, from Union Park on the West Side to their destination in Federal Plaza, where presentations were delivered by Illinois Governor Blagoyevich and Congressman Luis Gutierrez.

The protest drew comparisons with scales near the largest protests Chicago has ever seen -- including one protest in 1886 which drew 80,000 immigrants marched down State Street demanding an eight-hour workday.

Check out:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/feature/display/70264/index.php


Thanks and see you at the Santa Cruz protest!

It's what we call a general strike. Too many people in the U.S. take immigrants for granted, so walking out of work proves how valuable they really are.

The Senate Judiciary Committee may attempt to complete immigration bill mark-up this week.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Arlen Specter R-PA., is currently considering the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The committee has met twice to consider the bill, but has only made progress on Titles I and II on border and interior enforcement. The most controversial issues, such as the criminalization of the undocumented and those who assist them, the temporary worker program, and the fate of the undocumented population, could be taken up this week. The committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday and may try to finish its work and report a bill by the end of the week. It is crucial that you contact your Senators this week to ask them to support comprehensive immigration reform, most particularly an earned legalization program for the 11 million undocumented in the country.

As background, Senator Frist has stated he will bring enforcement-only legislation (most likely Titles I, II, and III of the legislation) to the floor the week of March 27 if the Committee does not report a bill to the floor. Such a move would diminish chances that comprehensive immigration legislation will be considered during the current Congress.

We urge you to contact the Senators no later than Wednesday with a two-part message:
1). Only a comprehensive immigration reform bill is acceptable and that the Senate Judiciary Committee should be given time to complete its work and,

2). Please support an amendment to the bill which would provide an earned legalization program for the 11 million undocumented in the country.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are:

Alabama: Senator Jeff Session's office at (202) 224-4124

Arizona: Senator Jon Kyl's office at (202) 224-4521

California: Senator Feinstein’s office at: (202) 224-3841

Delaware: Senator Biden’s office at: (202) 224-5042

Illinois: Senator Durbin’s office at: (202) 224-2152

Iowa: Senator Grassley’s office at: (202) 224-3744

Kansas: Senator Brownback’s office at: (202) 224-6521

Massachusetts: Senator Kennedy’s office at: (202) 224-5251

New York: Senator Schumer’s office at: 202-224-6542

Ohio: Senator DeWine’s office at: (202) 224-2315

Oklahoma: Senator Coburn’s office at: (202) 224-5754

Pennsylvania: Senator Specter’s office at: (202) 224-4254

South Carolina: Senator Graham’s office at: (202) 224-5972

Texas: Senator Cornyn’s office at: (202) 224-2934

Utah: Senator Hatch’s office at: (202) 224-5251

Vermont: Senator Leahy’s office at: (202) 224-4242

Wisconsin: Senator Kohl’s office at: (202) 224-5653 & Senator Feingold’s office at: (202) 224-5323

Click on the links provided for a summary of the bill and talking points which highlight the major issues in case you have an opportunity for a longer conversation with staff. Again, the short message is that 1). the Senate Judiciary Committee should be given time to complete its work on a complicated immigration bill. Such a bill should not be rushed out of committee. Please support an amendment to the bill in committee and/or on the floor which would provide an earned legalization program for the 11 million undocumented in this country. (An earned legalization program would provide temporary work visas for currently undocumented. It would require them to pay a fine, begin learning English, and work for six years before becoming eligible for a green card/permanent residency)

This is an important week for the chances for comprehensive immigration reform. We need your voices.

This country has been economically moved by the hispanic community. At this time the government has to recongnize the fact that thanks to the hunger , the frustration of surviving poverty , hispanics are willing to work for a measely .17cents a piece of cardboard filled with grapes in order to work for a better tomorrow for their families . Unfortunately all hispanics are thought to come to the Us and commit crimes but not all are crminals .Like in every race, there are people; because in the long run thats what we all are, that will make not so inteligent decisions but we connot judge everyone to be the same . More importantly we have to realize that no caucasian or african american will allow to be paid miserable wages , a lot of US Citizens don't appreciate or take advantage of the opportunity given to them by being born in the US , but these undocumented individuals make the effort and want to strive to succed but are not given the chance , the government is acting as if though they were part of planet of the apes society figuritively speaking . I think the economy will lose out on them bieng deported , also what about a US Citizen's right to live in this country? "What of that "? So is one to assume that some laws are meant to be broken or not followes ,because if that is thew case then we are set for disaster. Hispanics are very humble and want to do what s right because we are very religious and put our faith in God , but if they are pushed enough I think that there will be some serious reprocutions .