"Charity is commendable, everyone should be charitable. But Justice aims to create a social order in which, if individuals choose not to be charitable, people still don't go hungry, unschooled or sick without care. Charity depends on the vicissitudes of whim and personal wealth, justice depends on commitment instead of circumstance.
Faith-based charity provides crumbs from the table; faith-based justice offers a place at the table"
~Bill Moyers

Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts

Thursday, May 14, 2009

San Francisco May Day 2009 March and Rally: Immigration Reform, Stop the Raids, Pass EFCA.

Disregarding the Swine Flu and Rain, we marched - Cumplimos.

Here are some pics taken during our May Day Action:





Historical alliance in San Francisco, Immigrants making May Day what it is supposed to be, Organized Labor doing what is in their best interest, which is to work to prevent wages from being deflated by Employers when they hire workers vulnerable to exploitation / low wages, in addition to fulfilling their responsibility and duty; to help ALL OF THE WORKERS.

A broad Coalition of Pro-Immigrant groups, Labor Unions, Religious and Community Organizations was formed under the banner "Workers Without Borders, United in Struggle" Organized the Rallies and March - The subtitle of this year's May Day March was "Nativa o Extranjera, somos la misma Clase Obrera" ("Native or foreign, we are the same Working Class")

Troughout the nation, we marched and that was good. however, our struggle just got harder, President Barack Obama has reversed his position on Immigration Reform - Our work had just began anew.

"On the thorniest of political issues, President Obama has embraced the enforcement-first position on immigration that he criticized during last year's presidential campaign, and he now says he can't move forward with the type of comprehensive bill he wants until voters are convinced that the borders can be enforced."

IMMIGRANTS AND LABOR JOIN

IN SUPPORT FOR THE

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT.


San Francisco—On Tuesday, On April 21st immigrant rights groups held a press joint press conference with Unions in the Bay Area to address their support for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). "Workers Without Borders, United In Struggle" is a coalition of organizations representative of the different communities advocating for the rights of immigrant and workers, and were organizing the May 1st March in San Francisco.

As a candidate and in subsequent announcements, President Barack Obama has supported the passage of the Employee Free Trade Act. At this press conference, and at the May First March, the Coalition did challenge Senator Dianne Feinstein to reconsider, and take a public position in support of the rapid passage of the EFCA.



Background Song "El Mojado" ("The Wetback")

Empacó un par de camisas, un sombrero
Su vocación de aventurero, seis consejos, siete fotos
Mil recuerdos

Empacó sus ganas de quedarse
Su condición de transformarse
en el hombre que soñó
y no ha logrado

Dijo adiós con una mueca disfrazada de sonrisa
Y le suplicó a su Dios crucificado en la repisa
El resguardo de los suyos

Y perforó la frontera
Como pudo

Si la luna suave se desliza
Por cualquier cornisa
Sin permiso alguno

Porque el mojado precisa
Comprobar con visas
que no es de neptuno

El mojado tiene ganas de secarse
El mojado esta mojado por las lagrimas que evoca la
nostalgia
El mojado, el indocumentadoCarga el bulto que el legal no
cargaría
Ni obligado

El suplicio de un papel lo ha convertido en fugitivo
Y no es de aquí porque su nombre no aparece en los
archivos
Ni es de allá porque se fue

Si la luna suave se desliza
Por cualquier cornisa
Sin permiso alguno

Porque el mojado precisa
Comprobar con visas
que no es de Neptuno

Mojado
Sabe a mentira tu verdad
Sabe a tristeza la ansiedad
De ver un freeway y soñar con la vereda
Que conduce hasta tu casa

Mojado, mojado de tanto llorar
Sabiendo que en algún lugar
espera un beso haciendo pausa
Desde el día en que te marchaste

Si la luna suave se desliza
Por cualquier cornisa
Sin permiso alguno

Porque el mojado precisa
Comprobar con visas
que no es de neptuno

Si la visa universal se extiende
el día en que nacemos
y caduca en la muerte
por que te persiguen mojado
si el cónsul de los cielos
ya te dio permiso

Ricardo Arjona

Fuente: musica.com

Letra subida por marcoleon


He packed a pair of shirts, a hat
His vocation of adventurer, six warnings, seven photos
Thousand memories

He packed his desire to stay
His condition to transform himself
in the man he dreamed
and that he has not achieved

He said goodbye with a disguised face of smile
And he begged to his crucified God in the shelf
The protection for his close ones

And he perforated the border
As he could

If the moon softly slides
On any cornice
Without any permission

Why does the wetback requires
To verify with visas
that he is not from Neptune

The wetback has the desire to be dry (To dry himself)
The wetback is wet by the tears that the nostalgia evokes
Carries the load that the legal one would not carry
Nor even if forced

The burden of a paper has turned him into a fugitive
And he is not from here because his name does not
appear in the records
Nor is he from there because he went away

If the moon softly slides
By any cornice
Without any permission

Why does the wetback requires
To verify with visas
that he is not from Neptune

Wetback
Your truth tastes of lie
The anxiety tastes of sadness
to see a freeway and dream about the path
Which leads to your home

Wetback, wet of so much crying
Knowing that in some place
a kiss awaits making a pause
Since the day in which you left

If the moon softly slides
By any cornice
Without any permission

Why does the wetback requires
To verify with visas
that he is not from Neptune

If the universal visa extends
the day in which we are born
and expires in the death
why do they chase you wetback
if the heavenly consul
already gave you permission

Ricardo Arjona

Source: musica.com

Lyrics uploaded by marcoleon

Translation to English by: Aurora Grajeda

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Announcing a New Blog - Keeping faith for "The Illegal Extraterrestrial" - and a New Blogger, Marisa Loza.

As a result to my interest / desire to know where and when actions for May Day 2009 in the US would take place, as many of you know, I compiled a list of events, a post-action post and subsequently I posted a report of what I learned.

In carrying out the tasks for this project, I had the opportunity and privilege of talking with activists all across the Nation, got to talk to many people united in the worthwhile struggle for justice, equality or, saying it differently, just plain fairness and goodness.

My experiences were so inspirational, energizing and rewarding - I heard stories of what they were doing, I heard their optimism, energy, conviction and commitment - I was told how their Actions turned out, albeit the low turnouts everywhere, I didn't sense any dismay or other negative feelings normally associated to when our expectations are not fulfilled.

Of the many people I talked with, for details first and then updates, I also contacted our sister, comrade and friend Marisa Loza, of 'Latinos Unidos del Valle de Napa', who has helped organize many Actions in that area and who was again among the organizers for a May Day 2009 Vigil, which was eventually canceled, during one of our phone conversations, I learned that she had a story to tell about a day planned with high expectations but instead turned into 1. Disappointment, 2. Conviction, 3. Commitment and ended up being 4. Very Rewarding.

I asked to tell me about her experiences on May 1st '09, after she finished, the first thought that came to my mind was: This story has to be shared, I interrupted her to voice it.

Well, she had the same thing in mind and so it came to pass, she went ahead to setup a Blog and publish her first post and I decided to bestow upon myself the honor and pleasure to talk about it in a post of my own in my Blog.

Aurora


Saturday, May 9, 2009
Keeping faith for "The Illegal Extraterrestrial"

Every year is a different experience, every year I learn something new. But this year, it was like I was dragged from one place to another to hear a message from God. The swine flu, the rain, the new president, the unemployment and bad economy, everything plays an important factor for people to come out and show support to "La Causa" or hide in the shadows and do nothing.

Everything started like any other event, looking for the perfect venue so we can have the greatest number of people involved. We thought that our local Church will be the perfect place. Have a spiritual vigil, community speakers and end it with a mass. Everything looked perfect! For reasons out of my reach, the father from the Church did not let us use the Church as our venue. OK, we started with plan B: a public park. We did all the arrangements, pay the city dues and on May 4, around 4:00 p.m., the majority of the board of directors decided to cancel our event "for safety reasons". What! After all the hard work, besides more people die crossing the border every year than from flu. What about all the people that called me to confirm the date, time and spot. The swine flu is a justified cause; on the other hand, my compromise with the people that called and I said I'll be there. I called the other organizers and said to them "llueva, truene o relampage, I'll be there" So I did.

On May 1st. at 5:00 p.m. I was standing at the Napa Veteran's Park in downtown Napa with my umbrella, a light blue sweater, jeans and sandals. Why sandals? I was positive hoping for a sunny day and something comfortable to walk. Two other members Marcos and Ricky, arrived with their umbrellas too. Their umbrellas were twice as big as mine and they were dressed accordingly to the rainy weather. We stayed there for an hour. Because it was raining so hard, nobody else showed. It was kind of a disappointment because we worked so hard all the month of April and have this canceled at the last minute.

I invited my two good friends to have a cup of hot coffee a few blocks away from the Park. They agreed with me, so we walked to this place that neither of us had ever been before. When we were ordering we noticed that they were setting a small stage with a camera, speakers and a microphone.
MORE...


...he announced the first person: Julio Soriano Soriano. I believe that besides us three, he was the only Latino there. In the middle of different conversations among the people inside the coffee place, the espresso machine and the rainfall, he approached the crowd by introducing himself. He said something about a mix of Native Indian and Mexican, Illegal Immigrants, and he did not have a guitar with him. These three things got my attention. Then he started to read a poem of his own inspiration. The crowd started to quite down to the point that only his words and his breath were left in the room: “Just imagine! A human wannabe asking for fair wages? Asking for representation, opportunity and justice. Absurd!



In the less expected place, his words came and reminded me that I have to keep my faith and hope up high because sooner or later, there will be a change in this world where everyone will be treated equally regardless of race, religious beliefs, or gender. To me, he was like a messenger from God. Maybe I am simply doing my job too: Fulfilling and manifesting my destiny.

Marisa Loza
Immigration Consultant

Enjoy this young man poetry.


"The Illegal Extraterrestrial"

I was born here on earth.
Born from two human parents.
For as long as I can remember
I have lived among the human species.
I can see, touch, and taste.
I can hear and speak.
I have a family; I have emotions.
I’m able to love.
I’m able to hate.
I’m able to cry.
I’m able smile.

I have the same organs that everyone else has.
I have only one brain, only one heart, just two lungs.
Still don’t believe me?
Well, I have 46 chromosomes.
You can check my DNA if you want.
I promise I’m really the same as you.

I’m sorry undocumented immigrant, whoops,
Did I say undocumented immigrant? I meant illegal alien.
Lets not go and call you undocumented immigrant.
We don’t want you poking around thinking that
You have a chance to be like us humans.
Just imagine! A human wannabe asking for fair wages?
Asking for representation, opportunity and justice.
Absurd!

What about us you say, we’re immigrants too?
Well, you see,
We’re the GOOD kind of immigrants.
We were chosen by God.
When we came into these lands, we were simple doing our job:
Fulfilling our Manifest Destiny.
We came to civilize the savage beings of the Americas.
We actually brought goodness to these lands. We made it a better place.
See those great concrete cities spread across the nation? We made them.
See the millions and millions of great cars? We made those too.
See the vast fertile fields with grains, fruits and vegetables? We put those there and removed the savages.
This nation, in fact the whole world, should be grateful for our existence.
Unlike you, who brings nothing useful. You’re just an annoying pest...

MORE...


Thursday, May 7, 2009

US: 90,898 TO 96,993 Demonstrators, with 63% of the actions held yet to report, took to the Streets on May Day 2009

With only 37% of Actions reporting, between 90,898 TO 96,993 people marched, ralied or held vigils in the United States on May Day 2009 -- 67out of 100 of the actions held in different states have yet to report numbers, amongst them are, New York, Oakland, San Diego, ect, Javier Rodriguez thinks that Sacramento already reported numbers but neither of us has them.

As you can see, 3 in the cancelled event en Napa, 15 in Memphis, 100 in Hayward, with the actions in Los Angeles combined - 10,000 marched, 10,000 in Tuczon's explosion, 15,000 in Chicago or the whoping 30,000 in Milwaukee, no matter how big or how small the turnout was, it all adds up.

Below please find an alpha sorted list of actions where we don't have numbers, yet - pass the word around that we need to fill in the gaps, it is important because as you may remember, we got hammered by the media, even the in the Spanish-speaking one, remember what they were saying? That people were afraid of the Swine Flu, [influenza], figures in authority were advising us to avoid large gatherings, we got reports that churches were not only telling people to stay in their home, they even cancelled their meetings, and on, and on, and on, geeeee, I wonder why.

You don't think that it has anything to do with immigrant and workers rights, eh? nah, of course not, the EFCA and Immigration Reform issues could not have anything to do with it, could they? Their being two of the most contentious issues in the US today in no way could they have shaped and framed the messages from the People in Power and the Media.... What? Are they one and the same? Ooooh, live and learn, and here I was thinking that they just loooved workers and that their primary interest was our well being, our health and welfare.

OK, satire and sarcasm aside, please help us compile the numbers, will you?

Aurora Grajeda
SFCA 050709









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