SAVE THE DATE:Tuesday June 29th-ICE headquarters
JOSEFRO...@aol.com
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, June 29th
ICE Headquarters
101 W. Congress Pkwy
10:00 A.M.
Chicago Launches Moratorium on Deportations Campaign
Thirty days before Arizona’s SB 1070 Law goes into effect, Chicago organizes a National Wide Campaign!
On May 18th Pastor Santellano from Hope Apostolic Ministry started a hunger strike demanding President Obama to use his executive power to call a moratorium on deportations. On June 17th, Pastor Santellano handed off his 32 day hunger strike due to health risks and pleas from his family and congregation to well known Chicago priest Father Jose Landaverde from Our Lady of Guadalupe Anglican Mission. Landaverde steps up to take Santellano's place in the hunger strike demanding that president Obama sign an executive order to implement a moratorium on deportations. Since June 17th different organizations, activists, organizers, community leaders, youth and students have shown solidarity and support with Father Landaverde. But much more is need it in this fight. We need to come together and re-organize, re-strategize, and re-build the movement.
On June 29th, thirty days prior to the enforcement of Arizona’s SB 1070 law, the announcement of the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign will be made. Youth, students, local organizations, labor unions, organizers, activists, religious leaders and the Chicago community re-organizes and re-strategizes in the fight for a just and humane immigration reform. Chicago will organize direct actions against all law enforcement and government agencies that help in any way with deportations of human beings. The message is simple; we demand a moratorium on all deportations through president Obama's executive power. The main target, President Obama, by millions of people whom are ready to fight and stand up for Justice.
The Moratorium on Deportations Campaign has drafted a manifesto that explains the type of campaign it hopes for and the creation of a timeline that points to Arizona on July 29th, the national day of non compliance, when SB 1070 goes into effect. Its building up for two events, the first is this Tuesday, June 29th where a rally and press conference will be held (more on this below). The second will be a city wide mobilization on July 17th outside Cook County jail on 26th St. and S. California Ave. By then there will be materials for people to not only participate but also to organize their actions for July 29th, when SB 1070 law is enforced.
How do we plan to build for this?
We want to make these events to be a point of
interest for grassroots organizations and the community. In order to do
this we recognize that we need to be bold, energetic and very very creative.
We need to convince people to join their "own movement." We have been
discussing new tactics that do not require a lot of organizing or time as in
previous times.
Our plans include a “migra-manta” guerilla campaign. (Note: This is not the official name.) A migra-manta is a banner big enough to hang over a viaduct, path, bridge, rock, statue or anywhere else where it can be visible to the public. Along the same lines, a flash mob; a silent protest that is very theatrical and effective. It consist of a coordinated stand-in where the participants hold sings or posters and stand still for about 5 minutes while others pass out literature.
A poster (artistic) campaign; to plaster whole
neighborhoods, school campuses, stores and businesses to bring awareness of the
issue and gain support. Businesses will be asked to put it up as a sign of
support. Posters may be bought as a form of support.
All participating members and organizations should come up with creative ideas on how to bring awareness to the community and get them involved.
So with that said, June 29th will not only be a press conference, but also a call to action. We will present our first migra-manta, our first batch of posters, and also announce the city wide event for July 17th. More importantly, we will make a call for communities to vote with their feet and become involved in this movement any way they can. In order for this to happen, we need the presence of all of our members and allies.
We need to remember that these are hard times for our communities and we need to wake them up. This is the summer that will decide whether SB 1070 goes national or we revive the giant movement that we saw just 4 years ago. The movement is fertile and alive; all we need to do is lift the rocks to find the millions who are also as angry and ready to fight back. Please reply to this email if you have suggestions or ideas.
Please check out the Facebook page and join the campaign:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=114298278617042&ref=ts
I'm hopeful to see all of you on the 29th and coordinating our actions for the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign.
Next organizing meeting for Moratorium on Deportations Campaign:Tuesday June 29th @6:30pm Casa Aztlan, 1831 South Racine Avenue Chicago, IL 60608.
These are weekly meetings that will be held in order to coordinate events and gather information on how to move forward with the campaign. Please join us and lets keep up the fight, sign on to our googlegroup and facebook page where it will serve as the mean of coordinating our events, actions and information. Become a sponsor of this campaign and send us your organization info, the more people and organizations we have on board, the better we can delegate and expand our campaign and eventually reach our main goal. Attached you will find the draft manifesto, feel free to give feed back on our weekly meetings.
Sincerely,
Committee on Moratorium on Deportations Campaign