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New Mexico/Nuevo Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE!

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE NATIONAL CALL FOR ACTION FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM AND INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY

PEACEFUL MARCH

3:00-5:00- TIGUEX PARK (Mountain/18th) for information, live music and fun for the whole family. As it is a no purchase day, take a picnic lunch for your family.

5:00— Peaceful march from the park to the Civic Plaza (3rd/Tijeras) and then march back to park.

To show that we are a unified community we will wear white or a white ribbon on May 1st and will carry white flags instead of national flags.

ATTENTION WORKER/STUDENT: If you decide to participate in the national strike and you have questions about your rights, call us.

For more information, El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos al 246-1627.

Go to: www.swop.net and click on SWOPblogger

Co-sponsors: Southwest Organizing Project, Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental Justice, Community Health Partnership, Partido La Raza Unida,

Supporting organizations: ACORN, Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, Archdiocese of SF, Center for Economic Justice, East Central Ministries, El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, Grey Panthers, Kalpulli Izkalli

¡ALBUQUERQUE!

EN SOLIDARIDAD CON EL LLAMADO NACIONAL PARA LA REFORMA MIGRATORIA Y EL DIA INTERNACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES

MARCHA PACIFICA

1 de MAYO

3:00-5:00- nos juntaremos en el PARQUE TIGUEX (Mountain/ Calle 18) para información, música en vivo, y diversión para toda la familia. Como es un día sin compras, llévele un refrigerio a su familia.

5:00—del parque MARCHAREMOS pacíficamente a la Plaza Cívica (3ra/Tijeras)

6:00- manifestación corta en la Plaza Cívica y después, MARCHAREMOS de regreso al parque.

¡OJO! TRABAJADOR/ESTUDIANTE: Si Usted decide participar en el paro nacional

y tiene preguntas acerca de sus derechos, llámenos.

Para más información llame a El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos al 246-1627

O visita la pagina www.swop.net y as clic enSWOPblogger

Co-patrocinadores: Southwest Organizing Project, Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental JusticeCommunity Health Partnership, Partido La Raza Unida

Organizaciones que apoyan: ACORN, Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, Archdiocese of SF, Center for Economic Justice, East Central Ministries, El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, Grey Panthers, Kalpulli Izkalli,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

¡SANTA FE!

SOMOS UN PUEBLO UNIDO LES INVITA

A UN DÍA DE CAMPO FAMILIAR

APOYANDO EL PARO NACIONAL A FAVOR DE UNA REFORMA MIGRATORIA

¡VEN Y DISFRUTA CON TU FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!

LUNES 1° DE MAYO

DE 1:00 PM A 6:00 PM

EN EL PARQUE FRANKLIN E. MILES

(EN LA ESQUINA DE CAMINO CARLOS REY Y SIRINGO RD EN SANTA FE)

• · Entretenimiento para toda la familia. Música en vivo.
• · Puedes traer tu propia comida, o habrá comida a bajo precio ( el dinero recaudado se donará a Somos un Pueblo Unido, una organización sin fines de lucro)
• · Por favor no traigan banderas
• · Vengan vestidos de blanco
• · También puedes apoyar una reforma migratoria o la comunidad inmigrante no comprando nada éste día y poniéndose un moñito blanco.

Para más información sobre el evento y sus derechos laborales, llamen a Somos Un Pueblo Unido al ( 505) 424-7832.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

SOMOS UN PUEBLO UNIDO INVITES YOU TO

WORKER’S DAY FAMILY PICNIC

SUPPORTING THE NATIONWIDE BOYCOTT AND MOBILIZATION FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

MONDAY, MAY 1ST

FROM 1:00 PM TO 6:00 PM

AT FRANKLIN E. MILES PARK

(ON THE CORNER OF CAMINO CARLOS REY

AND SIRINGO RD. IN SANTA FE)

• · Entertainment for the whole family. LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY!
• · You can bring your own food or you can buy food at the park at affordable prices (the money raised will be donated to Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a non-profit organization)

• · Please do not bring any flags
• · Please wear white

You can also support an immigration reform by not buying anything on May 1^st and wearing a white ribbon.

For more information about the event or to learn about worker’s protections please call Somos Un Pueblo Unido at 505 424-7832

immigration
HR 4437
Albuquerque
new mexico
International Workers Day
May 1

From the National Immigrant Law Center and the ACLU Immigrant Rights Project, etc...

Del Centro Nacional de los Leyes de los Inmigrantes, y el ACLU Proyecto De Los Derechos Inmigrantes...

Click/Clique

English

Espanol

In Albuquerque, Call El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos at 505 246 -1627.
Para mas informacion de Albuquerque, comumiquese con El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos al 246 -1627.

Or call SWOP 505 247 8832.

karlos says: Psssst. Something's going on, if you haven't noticed...

Monday, May 1, 2006
Albuquerque, NM

3:00 00-5:00 00- TIGUEX PARK (Mountain/18th) for information, live music and fun for the whole family. As it is a no purchase day, take a picnic lunch for your family.

5:00 00— Peaceful march from the park to the Civic Plaza
(3rd/Tijeras)

6:00 00- short rally at Civic plaza and then march back to park.

In an unprecedented call from communities, working families and immigrant workers across the country, millions of people will not go to work or school, not purchase anything and rally in the streets on Monday, May 1, 2006.

Cities across the country will be holding rallies and marches in support of a modern immigration policy based on human rights and the realities of today's global economy.

Groups from the Grassroots Global Justice alliance holding rallies, demos, etc. include:

Below is a link to an article about the world's largest meat producer shutting down during the planned rallies. This is going to be big, folks.

Tyson to Shut Plants During Immigration Rallies
MSNBC - 1 hour ago

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Tyson Foods Inc., the world’s largest meat producer, says it will temporarily shut down nine of its beef and pork plants Monday because many of the workers plan to attend immigration rallies... Read More

immigration
HR 4437
Albuquerque
new mexico
International Workers Day
May 1

From a flier circulating around:

Editor's note: SWOP officially endorsed this call to action during a member meeting on April 15, 2006. The general sense was that SWOP would support anyone that wanted to participate in the national strike by providing space and being a resource for folks. Call SWOP at 505 247 8832 and ask for Victoria if you have any questions...

ATTENTION WORKER/STUDENT: If you decide to participate in the national strike and you have questions about your rights, call us. For more information, El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos al 246 -1627.

The following organizations endorse the march for immigration reform/International/worker’s day: Southwest Organizing Project, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, Community Health Partnership, Partido La Raza Unida, Grey Panthers, IWW Albuquerque, East Central Ministiries (final list will be published the day of the march).

We are all going to wear white or a white ribbon to represent solidarity and peace.

IT’S A NO PURCHASE DAY!

To show that we are a unified community we will have white flags instead of national flags.

• Yes to providing a path to citizenship for workers and undocumented students.
• Yes to providing visas and workplace protections for future immigrant workers.
• No to criminalization of immigrants or those who work with them.
• No to the militarization of our borders and our communities.

3:00 00-5:00 00- TIGUEX PARK (Mountain/18th) for information, live music and fun for the whole family. As it is a no purchase day, take a picnic lunch for your family.

5:00 00— Peaceful march from the park to the Civic Plaza
(3rd/Tijeras)

6:00 00- short rally at Civic plaza and then march back to park.

3:00 00-5:00 00- TIGUEX PARK (Mountain/16th) for information, live music and fun for the whole family. As it is a no purchase day, take a picnic lunch for your family.

5:00 00— Peaceful march from the park to the Civic Plaza
(3rd/Tijeras)

6:00 00- short rally at Civic plaza

immigration
HR 4437
Albuquerque
new mexico
International Workers Day
May 1

Every time someone against the raise says that they're 'born and raised' in Albuquerque, take a drink. Maybe two.

Everyone knows that the number one complaint around here is wages.

People power has
those politicos, ms. cole
shakin' in their boots.

Now!

marjorie says...

Well, SWOP and the Albuquerque Chamber are in agreement on some things.

Terri Cole, of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, in response to a question by one of the resident Free Marketeers on the Council about the desirability of raising the wage (this is a paraphrase):

...yes, this isn't desirable but this proposal is least harmful to us (the business sector). Given what we would get in a referendum that would have a very good chance of passing. It has a lot of popular support and would likely pass. We believe this is better for us than a battle that we would probably lose...and in the end we would have this raise PLUS indexing and a lack of a phase-in.


ps: yes, karlos, all the bloggers are dreaming of booze right now! there are a fair amount of people here...SWOP, NM Voices for Children, ACORN, AFSCME, CLC...

Karlos says:

Hey Marjorie! Thanks for the word on the street. So who's all there? More bloggers than people? I hope not.

So here's the (simple) Min Wage Drinking Game

Drink every time they water down the ordinance. But don't water down your drinks!

Karlos! Nice to see you blogging all the way from San Francisco.

I'm here in the council chambers...sitting with all the bloggers. It's pretty cool that we can blog from here.

News on the street is that a compromise has been struck that amends the bill to include a provision that employers can deduct $1.00 if they provide at least $2500 annually in health and child care benefits. That gives at least five councilors and the mayor.

So...probably not much of a debate tonight. And perhaps that's why the turn-out here tonight isn't great. This room is about 2/3 full at this point and we're about to start. Still, the social justice crowd is here and that's always great to see.

Karlos says:

Ok, I guess I'm going to try to participate in this blog-in thing.

I'm not really going to be there. I'm in San Francisco.

But they've got a live stream on the internet over at cabq.gov, so I'll be sending my comments from afar. For at least a little while...

You'll notice the Gladys the Riveter image to the right. Today she's quoting Kanye West:

"At least can I get a raise on the minimum wage?"

Border Social forum
October 6-8, 2006

Change in Date:
Many organizations that anticipate participating in the first Border Social Forum (BSF) have petitioned us to change the dates of the Forum scheduled for May 3-5, 2006. The great majority of organizations making the change of date request are organizations involved in organizing for the May 1 General Strike and have been active in organizing the marches for migrant rights and against the racist and anti-migrant, anti worker laws proposed at the US Congress.

For these reasons, we propose to organize the first Border Social Forum on October 6-8, 2006. The Border Social Forum will be held at Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua-México. CD. Juárez is located across the border from El Paso, Texas.

Organizing Committee:
Your organization can join the Organizing Comité that got formed at the meeting of the 18 of February, 2006 in CD Juárez. We need to add more people to the Organizing Committee but the process has already started and is underway.

The 2nd meeting of the Organizing Comité of the Border Social Forum Hill take place May 6, 2006. The meeting will start at 9 AM and close at 5:00 PM.

May 1: General Strike!
We make a CALL to all social movement organizations in the U.S. to take part in the General Strike of May 1. The General Strike will also be joined by organizations in México.

Work Commissions:
The Border Social Forum process is organizing permanent ‘work commissions’ to work before and after the Border Social Forum. The Work Commissions are;
1. Program Commission
2. Labor and work Commission
3. Art & Culture Commission
4. Mexico-US relations Commission
5. Human Rights Commission (Indigenous & Migrants)
6. Commission on Women & Youth

Workshops, Panels, and Work Commissions:
The Border Social Forum INVITES your organization to submit and application for a Workshop, Panel or Work Comisión. Please send all proposals to: grulla@igc.org en cargo de Rubén Solís.

May:
May 1-General Strike-Huelga General 2006

6 de Mayo-Meeting of Organizing Comité in CD Juárez

Delegate registration for the Border Social Forum
at grulla@igc.org c/o Rubén Solís

June:
Delegate registration for the Border Social Forum

Registration for workshops, panels and work commissions

July:
Delegate registration for the Border Social Forum

Registration for workshops, panels and work commissions

August:
August 26-Closing of application for workshops, panel or work commissions.

September:
Delegate registration for the Border Social Forum
Registration for workshops, panels and work commissions
Program published

October:
BORDER SOCIAL FORUM OCTOBER 6-8, 2006
TRAVEL DATE; FRIDAY

Thursaday: October 5
12:00-5:00 PM BORDER REALITY TOUR
Friday: October 6
FORUM-8AM-5 PM-OPENING
Saturday: October 7
FORUM-8 AM-5 PM
Sunday: October 8
FORUM-8 AM-4 PM-ClOSING

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION:
Rubén Solís
Southwest Workers' Union (swu@igc.org)
(210) 299 2666 or Centro por La Justicia (210) 222 1704
Cel-(210) 378 5699
grulla@igc.org



FORO SOCIAL FRONTERIZO
6-8 de Octubre 2006

Cambio de Fecha:
Muchas organizaciones que anticipan participar en el Foro Social Fronterizo peticionaron que se cambia la fecha para de la que estaba acordada para el 3-5 de Mayo. La gran mayoría de organizaciones que hacen esta petición del cambio de fecha son organizaciones que se encuentran organizando las marchas contra las leyes represivas de inmigración y por los derechos de migrantes.

Por esa razón, se propone organizar el Primer Foro Social Fronterizo del 6-8 de Octubre del 2006. El Foro Social fronterizo se llevara acabo en Cuidad Juárez, Chihuahua-México. CD Juárez se encuentra al cruzar de El Paso, Texas.

Comité Organizador:
Su organización puede hacerse parte del Comité Organizador que se formo el 18 de Febrero, 2006 en la reunión de CD Juárez. Aunque le falta integrar más gente a este Comité Organizador ya se encamino ese proceso.

SE PLANTEA LA SEGUNDA REUNION DEL COMITÉ ORGANIZADOR DEL FORO SOCIAL FRONTERIZO PARA EL 6 DE MAYO, 2006. LA REUNION SE INICIA A LAS 9 AM Y CLUSURA PARA LAS 5:00 PM.


1 DE MAYO ‘Huelga General’
Se hace un llamado a toda organización del movimiento social en Estados Unidos para qué tome parte en la HUELGA GENERAL que se llevara acabo el 1 de Mayo, 2006. La Huelga General será tanto en Estados Unidos como también en México.

Comisiones de Trabajo:
Se organizaron Comisiones permanentes de trabajo con el fin de darle seguimiento al trabajo antes y después del Foro Social Fronterizo. Las Comisiones de Trabajo son;
1. Comisión de programa
2. Comisión de Laboral y del Trabajo
3. Comisión de Arte y Cultura
4. Comisión Relaciones EEUU-México
5. Comisión de Derechos Humanos (indígenas y Migrantes)
6. Comisión de la Mujer y Juventud

Talleres, Paneles, Plenarias y Comisiones de Trabajo:
El Foro Social Fronterizo INVITA a su organización para que sumita una solicitud de proyecto para un taller, o panel para el Foro Social Fronterizo. Favor de enviar un escrito de su propuesta a: grulla@igc.org en cargo de Rubén Solís.

Mayo:
1 de Mayo-Re-apertura de solicitud para proyectos de taller o panel para el Foro Social Fronterizo

1 de mayo-Huelga General 2006
6 de Mayo-Reunión del Comité Organizador en CD Juárez

Registro de delgad@s esta abierto-envié su solicitud al grulla@igc.org a cargo de Rubén Solís

Junio:
Registro de delegad@s al Foro Social fronterizo

Registro de talleres y paneles para el Foro

Julio:
Registro de delegad@s al Foro Social fronterizo

Registro de talleres y paneles para el Foro

Agosto:
26 de Agosto-Clausura de solicitudes para proyectos de taller o panel.

Septiembre:
Registro de delegad@s al Foro Social fronterizo

Registro de talleres y paneles para el Foro

Programa será publicado

Octubre:
Foro Social Fronterizo (FSF) 6-8 de Octubre 2006
Día de viajar; Viernes por la mañana

Jueves: 5 de Octubre
12:00-5:00 PM Gira de la Realidad Fronteriza
Viernes: 6 de Octubre
Foro-8AM-5 PM Apertura
Sabado: 7 de Octubre
Foro-8 AM-5 PM
Domingo: 8 de Octubre
Foro-8 AM-4 PM Clausura

SI TIENE PREGUNTAS Y NECESITA MÁS INFORMACION:

Rubén Solís
Southwest Workers' Union (swu@igc.org)
(210) 299 2666 or Centro por La Justicia (210) 222 1704
Cel-(210) 378 5699
grulla@igc.org

The Albuquerque City Council will be debating the merits of a Minimum Wage Ordinance tomorrow night, April 20^th at 6pm.

To remind folks, in 2005 a minimum wage bill was narrowly (and we mean *narrowly*) defeated at the polls in Albuquerque. SWOP supported that bill, which provided an immediate increase to $7.50 in 2007 and it indexed the wage to the cost of living. That bill was placed on the ballot due to a petition drive that gathered more than 30,000 signatures after the city council refused to pass a minimum wage ordinance. Along with others, we believe it was defeated at the polls because of a controversial access provision, but at the same time the turn out of registered voters was very poor.

The proposed ordinance to be heard tomorrow night is incredibly watered down compared to last year’s bill: it phases in the new minimum wage over three years to ultimately reach $7.50 in 2009, and it includes NO indexing to inflation.

Opponents of the bill, as watered down as it is, assert that a raise in the wage would drive businesses out of the city. We say this is nonsense. Minimum wage jobs are overwhelmingly service oriented and will remain in the city.

Opponents of the bill also state that raising the wage will make it harder to provide health benefits, and that companies will choose to decrease benefits. According to the Trib, Cadigan will introduce an amended bill that allows credits for health and child care benefits...in other words, the value of providing those benefits can be considered part of the wage. This is modeled on Santa Fe's living wage ordinance. Here's my question: Do any of you think any of these people have EVER supported themselves or their families on the minimum wage? People who work at poverty wages NEED cash in hand in order to eat well, pay their rent, provide for their transportation...Rather than pass a minimum wage bill that lets the value of benefits be subtracted from the hourly wage, the Council ought to work toward developing a system of UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE for all Albuquerque residents.

Albuquerque workers deserve an immediate raise in the minimum wage to $7.50 per hour PLUS health and other benefits. They also deserve cost of living adjustments.

We believe Heinrich's ordinance being heard tomorrow night compromises too much,

and we strongly believe that a good bill can win in October.

29 years following the sabotage of Cubana Flt. 455, terrorist and CIA agent Luis Posada Carriles still has not been tried and is presently in a detention facility of the US Customs and Immigration Services in El Paso, Texas.

Due to domestic and international pressure, the US has not been able to release Posada from detention. In fact, On March 22 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security informed Posada in writing that "due to your long history of criminal activity and violence in which innocent civilians were killed, your release from detention would pose a danger to both the community and to the national security of the United States."

This Thursday in El Paso Posada will be interviewed by US immigration authorities in response to his request for US citizenship. There will be a protest and press conference calling on the Bush Administration to extradite Posada to Venezuela, where he is wanted for murder and other high crimes. The US maintains a long-standing extradition treaty with Venezuela, yet the Bush Administration is treating his case as one of "illegal entry" to the country.

Immigrants Yes! Terrorists No!
Extradite Posada to Venezuela!

Demonstration
Thursday, April 20 • 8:00am
Immigration Court • 8915 Montana St. at Maddox
El Paso, Texas

Sponsored by A.N.S.W.E.R., Nat’l Committee to Free the Cuban 5, SouthWest Organizing Project

To Endorse and Support, please call 415-821-6545, or email freethefive@freethefive.org
More Info: www.answercoalition.org • www.familiesforjustice.cu • www.freethefive.org

On March 30 in Havana, the families of the victims of this act gathered to announce the inauguration of a new web site dedicated to the pursuit of justice for Luis Posada Carriles and others involved in the planning and carrying out of the mid-air bombing.

Read more at http://www.familiesforjustice.net/interface.en/design/home.tpl.html

Wednesday, April 19th

5:30 - 7 pm

@ the SWOP offices, 211 10th Street SW, 87102.

Viva la Causa! 500 Years of Chicano History is a film based on the book with the same name. The book is published and distributed by the SouthWest Organizing Project and edited by Elizabeth Martinez.

The film was produced by Collision Course Video Productions, and is available for purchase by calling SWOP.

Teachers, organizations and youth groups are encouraged to come. Folks can also call to schedule special presentations for specific groups.

Call SWOP 505 247 8832 if you have any questions, want to buy the film or want to reserve a spot. Ask for Rosina.

Go here to read a Tribune article that mentions SWOP. (Friday April 7)

Another Tribune article from April 10, 2006.

Go here to read a Reuters/SF New Mexican article that mentions SWOP.

Today's Journal (paid site) has a quote from Rachel Lazar of El Centro...

The Journal also has a slide show...

From April 9 Rally, National Hispanic Cultural Center

Against HR 4437 and in support of FAIR, dignified and reality-based immigration policy

*Albuquerque

Peaceful Rally in support of National Day of Action

When: Sunday, April 9 @ 4PM
Where: National Hispanic Cultural Center – 1701 4^th Street SW (4^th and Bridge)

Say No to the Criminalization of Immigrants!

Wear something white

…To show that we are a united community without borders, we will have white flags instead of national flags.
Monday, April 10^th don’t purchase anything and wear a white ribbon.

For more info, Call El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos at 505 246 1627.

This event is supported by community, workers, unions, and grassroots/non-governmental organiations, and faith based organizations including: NM Federation of Labor – AFLCIO, Archdiocese of Santa Fe, SouthWest Organizing Project, SNEEJ, AFSME, ACORN NM, Community Health Partnership, NM Conference of Churches, District 1199 NM, Central NM Labor Council, National Writers Union, UFCE, Center for Peace and Justice (complete list to be announced at event.)

*Santa Fe

Sunday, April 9^th

1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

The march will start at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Fe, NM (located on the corner of Agua Fria St. and Guadalupe St.) and will end in a rally at the Cathedral Park with community speakers and music.

• Please wear white
• Bring a white handkerchief instead of a flag
• Parking available at Warehouse 21, on the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Guadalupe St. (by Site Santa Fe)

For more information, call Somos Un Pueblo Unido at (505) 424 7832
or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (505) 983-8868.

Supporting organizations: AFSCME International, American Friends Service Committee, Archdioceses of Santa Fe, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Communication Workers of America Local 7076, NM Conference of Churches, NM Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, NM Association of Bilijngual Educators, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Santa Fe Living Wage Network, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, and the SouthWest Organizing Project.

*Las Cruces

Monday, April 10 from 4:30 to 7 pm in front of Federal Building
Call Josie Marujo - 505 250 4041, or Santiago Juarez 505 927 2734

immigration
HR 4437
Albuquerque

new mexico

Center for Media and Democracy's new report on Fake News named ABQ's KASA Fox News as a station that uses Video News Releases (VNR), or Fake News.

According to the report, VNR's "are video clips that are indistinguishable from traditional news clips and are sometimes screened unedited by television stations without the identification of the original producers or sponsors, who are commonly corporations, government agencies, or non-governmental organizations."

Intel, also with ties to the area, was named as a client of one of the companies that supplied the Fake News Outlets with the VNRs. See the footage from an Oklahoma TV station.

Come and see Salt of the Earth

Monday, May 1 thru
Thursday, May 4
7pm Nightly

The true story of striking mine workers in Silver City, New Mexico

Filmed on location by blacklisted actors, directors and writers, starring the working people of Silver City

the Guild Cinema, 3405 Central NE

Sponsored by the Central New Mexico Labor Council, AFL-CIO. For bulk ticket purchases please call: Jon Thomas-Weger 505-306-4870 or Greg Chávez at 505-301-4519. $3 per ticket in blocks of ten or more. $6 at the door.

Pictures from AFSC – San Diego Area Office

SAN DIEGO UPDATE
On behalf of the AFSC’s US-Mexico Border Program in San Diego, we thank you for your support and action on the week-long student walk-outs, which culminated in more than 7000 students taking to streets last Friday, denouncing HR 4437 specifically, but generally mean-spirited immigration legislation being debated in Congress. Your phone calls helped ensure that the San Diego Police Department played a minimal role, and did not intervene when youth were exercising their rights to peacefully assemble and free speech. The spontaneous march in San Diego on Friday went without incident, and the media reported positive and favorable accounts that evening and the following day. Our office helped provide logistical support to the students who chose to express their political viewpoints on the immigration debate by walking-out during school hours.

Except for three youth in Oceanside CA, all those arrested in the City of San Diego have been released and are seeking legal assistance through reputable attorneys. The three youth in Oceanside are also seeking legal counsel, as they face more challenging legal issues.

Many youth involved in the walk-outs have met to discuss next steps, which include prospective organizing efforts on their campuses, with the idea of building a broader student-based movement within San Diego. On April 8 & 9, students will also be involved in upcoming marches, coordinated by different community based groups.

In Solidarity,

AFSC – San Diego Area Office

karlos says: Pasted below is from an email sent to us by Jill over at Southwest Workers' Union, a sister-organization of SWOP. SWU's use of symbolism in their message building is amazing. Great job!

Committee for Environmental Justice Action (CEJA) leader, Robert Alvarado, is featured in LA Times article about Kelly Air Force Base & TCE contamination. (CEJA is a project of SWU)

FULL STORY

Cancer Stalks a 'Toxic Triangle'

Scientists disagree about the risks of TCE. But residents near a former air base are dead certain.

By Ralph Vartabedian
Times Staff Writer

March 30, 2006

SAN ANTONIO — On nearly every block surrounding the former Kelly Air Force Base, small purple crosses sprout from front lawns, marking the homes where cancer has struck.

The residents call their neighborhood the "toxic triangle," alleging that the Air Force poisoned it with an industrial solvent, trichloroethylene, or TCE. It was casually dumped at the base for decades and spread for miles through a shallow aquifer under 22,000 nearby houses.

Texas health authorities have found elevated rates of liver cancer among residents, as well as higher-than-normal rates of birth defects. Though state health officials say it is impossible to prove that TCE causes the sickness here, this blue-collar community has little doubt about the connection.

"We are dying day by day," said Robert Alvarado Sr., who has lived in a small clapboard home for 36 years that sits about 14 feet over the TCE plume. "I have kidney failure, my wife has thyroid cancer, my neighbor just died of breast cancer."

More:

UNITED FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

March in Support of Immigration Reform!

Sunday, April 9^th

1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

The march will start at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Fe, NM (located on the corner of Agua Fria St. and Guadalupe St.) and will end in a rally at the Cathedral Park with community speakers and music.

• Please wear white
• Bring a white handkerchief instead of a flag
• Parking available at Warehouse 21, on the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Guadalupe St. (by Site Santa Fe)

For more information, call Somos Un Pueblo Unido at (505) 424 7832
or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (505) 983-8868.

Supporting organizations: AFSCME International, American Friends Service Committee, Archdioceses of Santa Fe, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Communication Workers of America Local 7076, NM Conference of Churches, NM Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, NM Association of Bilijngual Educators, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Santa Fe Living Wage Network, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, and the SouthWest Organizing Project.

ABQ, NM - El Centro del Igualdad y Derechos, a project of Enlace Communitario, held an informative forum and vigil to call for dignified and just immigration reform at Holy Rosary Church on Albuquerque's westside this evening. All of the speakers singled out HR 4437 as an anti-immigrant, anti-family and anti-worker bill. We'll see where this all goes from here.

Keep looking back for more information, particularly about the April 10 National Day of Action against HR 4437!

Victoria Rodriguez, SWOP lead organizer, spoke at the event.

karlos says: Click on any image to make it larger. Below is a photo essay of the Recuerdo Cesar Chavez March, Held in Albuquerque, NM on April 1, 2006. The Albuquerque Journal estimated the crowd at 1000.

[Check out some pictures posted by Ana Mascarenas here]





















Cesar Chavez
immigration
HR 4437
Albuquerque

karlos says: Check out the last paragraph, in particular...

Change Zoning For Clean Air

EDITORIALS:

Allowable zoning, more than anything, has contributed to the heavy concentration of industry in the South Valley's Mountain View neighborhood.

It is time Bernalillo County considers changing the zoning in the area to halt the influx of industries that plan to set up there. Or, perhaps the Envir