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July:
TURN UP THE HEAT ON ARIZONA AND FIGHT FOR REAL IMMIGRATION REFORM
In April, Arizona passed several highly controversial laws including SB 1070,
which requires law enforcement officials to check person’s immigration status. At least
10 states — Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina,
Mississippi, Texas, and Maryland — have called for laws that would mirror Arizona’s
Senate Bill 1070. Days later, Arizona legislators passed HB 2281 which prohibits ethnic
studies programs and multicultural education.
However, Arizona and those considering similar legislative efforts are not the only
ones to pass draconian immigration laws. The Obama Administration, although
critical of Arizona’s laws, has called for a further militarization of the boarder.
It is time to take action! The following action steps are designed to send anti-immigrant
legislators and businesses a message and to develop alternative practices that support
human beings regardless of country of origin. Share your findings with us. The more we
know about laws in your state, the more we can organize!
To get the ball rolling here is one suggestion of reading about immigration and migration of workers.
Support Fair Trade Organizations, repeal NAFTA and other free trade
agreements. According to John Ross, in his new book El Monstruo: Dread
and Redemption in Mexico City, NAFTA has destroyed the Mexican economy
creating a 40% unemployment rate and uprooted over 10 million Mexicans
from their family farms. The same policies that have devastated American
communities have created the conditions that force people to leave their homes
and look for work elsewhere.
Find out what laws in your state affect immigrants and write state officials. Write
your governor and state legislators and tell them that you oppose laws like
Arizona SB 1070 and HB 2281. Post your findings here.
Support the Dream Act by writing congress and President Obama. The Dream
Act provides a path to U.S. citizenship and allows states to charge immigrant
students in-state tuition. Currently, these students must pay out of state tuition
making college out of reach.
Change public discourse about immigration: In addition to writing your
legislators, have conversations with people about the root causes of immigration.
Emphasize workers shared situations. Call in to radio shows when immigration
is being discussed or write an editorial in your local newspaper. Make an
effort to have one conversation a week with someone about immigration.
Boycott Arizona Campaign: Follow the lead of cities like Los Angeles and boycott
Arizona and companies that are based in Arizona. Encourage your organizations
to plan conferences in states which do not have laws like SB 1070.
Refuse to buy products from companies that are based in Arizona. Be sure to
write the companies that you have chosen to boycott. Tell them that you will not
buy their products until SB 1070 is repealed and their company makes a public
statement condemning the bill.
Write in about taking action on immigration – this month’s action issue!!!
Beginning in July 2010, the WCSA will feature a theme for discussion and action, which explores some aspect of working class experience. Log onto the website each month to find out the theme, join with others around the world and take action. Return to the website or
facebook.com to report your progress or findings, or to simply stay in touch with others who are in solidarity with working class issues!
You don’t have to be a member to join in the action but becoming a
member helps support this and other projects of the Working Class
Studies Association – SO TAKE ACTION TODAY – BECOME A MEMBER!!!
GO TO membership to find out more about the WCSA
and Join US!
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