As a catastrophe unfolds in Arizona, people across the country are preparing to defend their communities against the racist immigrant policies being implemented under the banner of “secured communities” in America.
Arizona has been in the forefront of the most deplorable immigrant enforcement tactics, with Sheriff Joe Arpio’s shameful treatment of undocumented workers, the signing of the SB1070 bill by Governor Jan Brewer that will lead to racial profiling and distrust between the police and immigrant communities, and today the passage of a ban on ethnic studies programs.
These despicable actions in Arizona have led to organizing and involvement of all sectors of the community to show their disgust against these policies and remind elected officials, especially Arizona’s governor, that their actions will lead to massive mobilization at the polls. As one good friend said “Justice delayed, election denied”
Many people across the country are fighting to keep their communities safe from these xenophobic policies and are creating safe communities for all residents, and local Jobs with Justice Coalitions have been supporting these efforts.
On January 30, 2010, consumers and union members performed a hilarious flash mob dance at the Washington, DC auto show to protest Fiat/Chrysler’s broken promises.
The $14 billion taxpayer bailout of Chrysler was meant to help save good jobs. Instead, Chrysler is threatening to throw professional auto delivery drivers onto the unemployment lines and replace them with less experienced independent contractors and “alternative” carriers, some of which are using flat bed trucks or other transporters that are not designed to protect cars over long distances. More than 5,000 jobs are at stake.
You can help the Teamsters and their consumer allies to end Chrysler’s dangerous new transportation policy in three ways:
Watch the video. Fiat Chrysler may be forced to back down from their plans to jeopardize car safety and union jobs if enough people view this video. It’s better than writing a letter.
Send it to your address book or post it to all your friends on Facebook or MySpace, AND ask them to get their friends to do the same thing.
Mass deportations and workplace raids continue to terrorize communities across the United States. Racist immigration policies further divide families and communities and force millions of people to live under the constant threat that any interaction with police—however minor—could lead to detention and even deportation.
On January 26th, hundreds rallied outside the Department of Homeland Security and dozens blocked streets to bring attention to the need for immigration reform NOW. The protest was organized by CASA de Maryland and brought activists from DC Jobs with Justice, Nakasec, National Day Labor Organizing Network, and more.
Mackenzie Baris of DC JwJ explained, “this broken immigration system not only hurts the individuals and families who are caught in raids, but also hurts all workers and the economy as a whole by allowing employers to exploit the differences in immigration status to take advantage of workers and deny their rights.”
Tuesday’s action also drew attention to The Trail of DREAMs. Drawing inspiration from the civil rights movement, four students are walking from Florida to DC to bring public attention to a failed immigration system that tears
While the scope and length of the current economic crisis is still unclear – unemployment rates are at a record high, the number of day laborers looking for work at Home Depot is growing, and a quarter of DC residents are living below the poverty line — what is clear is that Mayor Fenty’s administration is chipping away at DC’s safety net by selling off the public sector to private interests. This summer DC Jobs with Justice launched the Take Back DC campaign in conjunction with Empower DC, the American Federation of Government Employees and the Dominion of Cab Drivers to protect the public sector and hold elected officials accountable.
Public health is just one of the sectors on the chopping block. DC’s Addiction, Prevention and Recovery Administration shut down this month,putting hundreds of patients out on the street while they wait for a private provider to be selected. A few months ago, the Community Services Agency of the Department of Mental Health was also privatized. 800 patients are still not linked to providers. According to John Walker, President of AFGE Local 383, disability
On October 5th, more than 200 DC high school students wearing all black walked out of classes on to protest the layoff of 388 school employees. Chanting “No counselors, no college!” students met at McKinley Technology High School and marched towards schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s office.
“We are here because our education in on the line,” said one student. “We have no teachers. All our counselors have been laid off. I am a senior, I want to graduate, I want to go to college, I want to have a future, but how can I do that without a school counselor?”
On October 2nd, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department entered classrooms at McKinley at around 2:45pm Friday to escort the teachers out of the classroom.
“I was in class, the police came in, told my teacher to leave the classroom and escorted her to her car. We knew the layoffs were coming but we didn’t know who or when it would happen. It was very distressing,” explained Tamika DeBose, a student at McKinley Tech.
As McKinley students gathered peacefully in the school courtyard on Friday, police attempted to disperse them, pepper-spraying DeBose directly in the face. Another senior, Teyvon
As a catastrophe unfolds in Arizona, people across the country are preparing to defend their communities against the racist immigrant policies being implemented under the banner of “secured communities” in America.
