Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
Mayday 2002 In DC: Immigrants Exercise Democracy
National Day of Action and Legislative Advocacy Organized by the
National Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty for Immigrants
By BEATRIZ MAYA
In an unprecedented exercise of democratic rights, undocumented and
documented immigrants took over Congress on May 1, 2002. The
National Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty for Immigrants achieved its
objective of "invading" Congress to demand permanent residency
and labor rights for the 9 million undocumented immigrants in the United
States.
More than 200 immigrants and an equal amount of supporters, armed with the
Coalition's legislative proposal, the FREEDOM Act, and their demand for
permanent residency and labor rights for all immigrants, visited the
offices of their members of Congress. [See below the FLOC/BWFJ.Coalition
appeal to George Bush demanding labor rights for all undocumented
immigrants and ratification of ILO Conventions.]
The event started with a 10 a.m. press conference on the Triangle (Capitol
Hill) organized by the National Coalition. It featured testimonies by
immigrant workers, who demonstrated the reasons why we need permanent
residency.
Among other testimonies were a student who cannot go on to college because
of being undocumented; the sister of an undocumented immigrant now in jail
just for working with no papers at one of the airports recently raided
because of "national security concerns"; and the case of a
deceased undocumented worker in Rhode Island whose employer evaded
responsibility for her death on the job because she had no papers.
These and other testimonies illuminated the plight of immigrant workers,
forced to leave their countries searching for work, criminalized in the
new land.
At the press conference, the Coalition also detailed the program for the
day, which included a meeting at the White House with assistants of
President Bush on immigration affairs, and a rally at the Upper Senate
Park. As soon as the press conference ended, immigrants went on to their
visits.
More than 200 congressional offices were visited on that day. The rally at
3:30 p.m. again featured immigrants themselves, reporting on the results
of their visits.
State by state, delegations from more than 30 States gave testimony of
their visits. FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez, on behalf of the White
House delegation, reported the commitment of the White House to continue a
dialogue with the National Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty.
To express their endorsement and support to the Coalition's struggle, Fred
Azcarate, National Director of Jobs with Justice, and Amber Gallup,
National Representative of United Students Against Sweatshops, also spoke
at the rally.
To join the struggle for permanent residency for all undocumented
immigrants, or for more information on this or other National Coalition
for Dignity and Amnesty activities, please contact Beatriz Maya at (419)
243-3456 or bmaya@floc.com.
As capital is free to move, workers should be free to move.
Hasta la Victoria!