Call, Walk In For DREAMS

We all have DREAMS and ambitions that we strive for. Millions of teens in the United States are denied the opportunity and the right to pursue theirs.

They are Americans. All that they lack is one piece of paper to be recognized as such.

A paper that would allow them to pursue citizenship and a future here through going to college or serving in the military, the DREAM Act. Many of us do not agree with the military recruitment going on. Let your senator know you prefer a community service path

Tomorrow the Senate will vote on the DREAM ACT.
Call your senators over and over and tell them that you support a citizenship path for youth that includes college and community service options. Tell them you oppose the military service "option".

Tomorrow, Denver Public Schools has a day off. Students from all over the district will walk in to Auraria Campus to make a statement about how much they want the opportunity for an education and to contribute to our State and our Country.
Walk In with them.

Senators
# Call Senator Salazar: (202) 224-5852
# Call Senator Allard: (202) 224-5941
Email your Senators

WALK-IN: Make the DREAM Act a REALITY Now!
Wednesday, October 24 at 10am
Auraria Flagpole, Denver (Colfax and Speer)
Let's walk IN to the college campus and show others that we have the right to an education. We will then march to SENATOR KEN SALAZAR's office to demand that he be a cosponsor of the DREAM Act and make the DREAM Act a reality now!

Action: Call to support worker's rights

**This message was sent to us by an organizer**

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the janitors’ picket at Park Meadows on Saturday!!

We had a very successful event and the workers who attended were overwhelmed and energized by all of the support they felt from the community. The janitors have reported experiencing threats and intimidation in response to their efforts to organize for better working conditions and yet they have continued to courageously stand up to their employer to ask for change. We thank you for coming out and recognizing that courage and supporting them in their ongoing effort to improve the quality of their lives.

After the action, two workers entered the mall with a union organizer all wearing their justice for janitors t-shirts. They were approached by Security who required them to change their shirts in order to be in the mall. They all complied and returned to the mall so that the workers could pick up their paychecks. While the workers were in the office getting their checks the union organizer was surrounded by 6-8 security guards who ultimately banned him from the mall for a year. He was told that union activity is not allowed on Park Meadows property. This was all done in view of workers and has obviously further frightened and intimidated workers. Both the janitors’ employer, The Millard Group and the owner of the mall, General Growth Properties are already being investigated for violations of federal labor law and now additional charges are being prepared.

WE NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN!

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF JANITORS!

CALL Pamela Schenck the General Manager of Park Meadows Mall at 303-792-2999 or Pamela.schenck@generalgrowth.com.

TELL HER to STOP Abusing the Civil Rights of Workers!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT =)

Events for August 25th through September 1st

August 25th Support
SEIU Janitors!

Time: 4:00pm
Action: Support Janitors in their right to organize by picketing with them against the Millard Group
Place: Park Meadows Mall
Directions: Map
Contact: Veronica Vera 303-698-7963 extension 134 or at wera@seiu105.org

AUGUST 31st Support
Citizenship Rights

Time: 11:00am

Action: Hearing to determine whether Mr. Mahd can receive his citizenship without delay.
Where: 901 19th Street Denver, CO, Rm A902

Links to details in this case: http://www.accesstojobs.com/media.html
Link to news coverage: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6624187
http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_4813326

Citizenship in exchange for Spying?

If you are a Muslim applying for citizenship, you might be asked to agree to spy first. If you decline, then you may find yourself in the situation of Mr. Zuhair Mahd and hundreds of other Muslims applying for citizenship.

Mr Mahd had been interviewed and passed his tests and was only waiting on his FBI background check to come back before being approved for citizenship. The government has 120 days to reply to a request for citizenship. Mr. Mahd waited two years.

He finally filed suit in Federal court to move his application forward. He represented himself. And won.

His FBI check came back clean. The government then asked him to supply additional documents and be interviewed again, deviating from the normal process. Mr. Mahd refused and so they have denied his application for citizenship and say he must appeal the decision through the immigration appeals system, which thanks to recent changes is completely separate from the court system in the United States. The appeal process can take years.

Mr. Mahd is again filing suit in federal court to fight this action. Please come out to the hearing and show your support for him.

What: Hearing to determine whether Mr. Mahd can receive his citizenship without delay.
When: Friday, August 31st, 2007
Hour: 11:00am
Where: 901 19th Street Denver, CO
Rm A902

Link to details in this case: http://www.accesstojobs.com/media.html
Link to news coverage: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6624187
http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_4813326

Activist Elvira Arellano Arrested and Deported

Immigration Control and Enforcement arrested Sra. Arellano as she was leaving a speaking event. She had been taking sanctuary in a church since last August with her son. Sra. Arellano decided it was time for her to leave that sanctuary in order to build momentum for a vigil in D.C. which will happen on September 12th.

Her arrest in front of her son and subsequent separation from him make me angry and sad. Elvira Arellano is a truly inspiring leader for human rights. She has risked her family and her livelihood to tell the truth about what it is like to be an immigrant in the United States.

While the anti-immigrant movement celebrates what they believe to be a defeat, I know that this vigil will gain momentum and power because of her sacrifice. I hope that she inspires all of us who are allies to realize how little we risk in the pursuit of justice and to do more.

There is a poll about her case and the plight of undocumented immigrants here. Please consider taking the poll. Write letters to the editor. And stay tuned for details on upcoming actions.

Please call the local Field Office to protest her arrest and deportation
Field Office Director, Denver
4730 Paris Street
Denver, CO 80239
Phone: 303-371-1067 or 5606
Area of Responsibility: Colorado, Wyoming

Events: August 20th-26th

I'm going to cheat and add this event for tonight:

TONIGHT 8/17 Padres and Jovenes Unidos fundraiser
What: BBQ and picnic
Time: 5:00pm
Where: Columbus Park 38th and Osage (map)
TO bring: Donations for the food


AUGUST 21st Coloradans For Immigrant Rights Garden Party
What: Raffle, food, fun
Time: 6:00pm
Where: AFSC offices 901 W. 14th Ave. in the large apartment building. Come in through the door closest to 14th Ave.


AUGUST 24TH
El Centro celebrates its Grand Reopening with the legendary Dolores Huerta!

The event is free and open to the public. However, donations are much appreciated to help El Centro start up in the newly renovated space.
RSVP to tomandannette@comcast.com

August 25th Support SEIU Janitors!
Time: 4:00pm
Place: Park Meadows Mall
Directions: Map
Action: Support Janitors in their right to organize by picketing with them against the Millard Group
Contact: Veronica Vera 303-698-7963 extension 134 or at wera@seiu105.org

Events for August 12th through the 19th

Come out out to Pablo's (map) 8/19 8:00am-noon for a pancake breakfast to benefit the African Community Center (map)

After going for a nice little stroll to work off the pancakes come to see an awesome cultural event and support the Somali Bantu Community Development Council at the Botanic Gardens (map). The cost is$10.00 and you need to register online or call 720-865-3610.

DREAM Act and AgJobs CALL TODAY!

The Senate will vote TODAY on two amendments!
OPPOSE
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will offer the Border Security First Act of 2007 as an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill (H.R. 2638). This enforcement-only amendment would do nothing but add to the dysfunction of our system and the suffering of hard working immigrants. It must be OPPOSED!

SUPPORT
In response, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will offer a side-by-side amendment to the Graham amendment. This positive amendment would provide limited, targeted relief to deserving immigrant populations. However, we do not agree with increased militarization of the border as provided for in this amendment and must let our senators know so. SUPPORT!

Please CONTACT both as soon as possible
WAYNE ALLARD
(303) 220-7414
(202) 224-5941
allard.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

KEN SALAZAR
(866) 455-9866
(202) 224-5852
salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
Please call ... the vote could happen soon.

YOU COULD SAY:
My name is_______. I live in ________. I OPPOSE the Graham amendment that would:

1. Take away localities freedom to choose to be a "sanctuary city" and remove our right to ban law enforcement from collecting immigration status by penalizing our cities
2. Increased detention beds
3. Expedite removal
4. Indefinite detention
5. Expand "criminal aliens" definitions: Subjecting visa overstayers to mandatory detention, raising serious cost and constitutional concerns;
6. More money to flood the border with patrol agents and more National Guard on the border
7. Increased penalties for minor visa overstays

I SUPPORT the Reid side-by-side amendment that would:

1. Include the DREAM Act.I your support the option for college as a path to citizenship and support adding a community service path. Leaving military service as the only other option furthers the poverty draft.
2. Include AgJOBS , ensuring legal status for workers and stable labor for farmers.
3. BUT OPPOSE any further militarization of the border as provided for in the amendment.

Call your Senators and then call your friends and tell them about this Urgent Action Alert! Encourage them to take action on these important amendments!

DREAM Act SUPPORT: CALL TODAY

The senate is considering the defense bill right now. The DREAM Act is an amendment to that bill. THe DREAM Act in its current state allows undocumented students who have been in the US for more than five years, to legalize their status by attending college or joining the military.






Right now the anti-immigrant movement is calling senators to demand that they remove the choice of college. This would leave many students to choose between a life in the shadows and military service. While some students are interested in joining the military, even they do not believe service should be forced upon their peers who are not interested.

Call or email your senators every day this week and tell them that you support the Durbin, Hagel, Lugar Amendment (aka the DREAM Act) and tell them you support college as an option for children who are undocumented.

Pro Immigrant Videos

Check out these YouTube videos done by groups in other states. I really like the spirit of the ads. What could we do here that would be similar? Ideas? Suggestions?