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May Day Shows Community Solidarity!
Immigrant Workers Union (UTI)
Contact Information: Yvonne Geerts 608/335-0357 Alex Gillis 608/345-9544
Email: yvonne@uniondetrabajadores.org , alexmgillis@gmail.com
Madison, Wisconsin-May 1st, 2009
Today,
around 600 to 700 people marched from Brittingham Park in Madison to
the Capitol Square and on to the Dane County building demanding the
rights of the “immigrants, the poor, and the workers.” The fourth
anniversary of the massive marches of spring 2006, hit Madison with
renewed energy to further the agenda of solidarity among the poor the
immigrants, and the workers. The demands that highlighted issues such
as passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, universal health care, a
repeal of the increased bus fare, and that the Dane County Sheriff step
down.
The
events began a little after 11 am with the arrival of students from
local high schools and the University of Wisconsin. The rally was
opened with folk singer Vicki Guzman from Toronto and was followed by a
series of speakers that included, John Peck from the IWW and several
members of UW student organizations. (see bellow for the complete
list)
At
the Capitol, there were a few words spoken by the president of the
South Central Federation of Labor, Jim Cavanaugh; Carolina Ortega from
MEChA who made a case for the passage of the Dream Act; recently fired
Taco Bell workers on behalf of the Workers’ Rights Center; Bill Franks
from the State Employees Action Coalition; and Will Williams for the
Madison Area Peace Coalition who inspired the crowd with his words on
the importance of unity, solidarity, and grassroots organizing.
At
the main event at the Dane County Building, the crowd heard words from
Luis Rodriguez an activist from LA, students, workers, housing
activists mixed with music from the Raging Grannies and the Chicano Son
group, Son Mudanza.
Organizers
of the event were content with the rally, “we have more diversity,
broad support, and many youth this year because we’ve tied our struggle
with that of other communities” said Yvonne Geerts of the IWU. However
they point out that the outbreak of swine flu and the neglect of local
radio “La Movida” to inform about the rally were major obstacles for
this year’s turnout.
La
Movida, the only 24 hour Spanish language radio, neglected to inform
listeners about the Madison rally yet announced the rally in Milwaukee
and created confusion regarding whether or not there would be a rally
in Madison. “We think La Movida’s actions show poor journalism and
artificially create divisions in the immigrant movement. Our community
suffers a lot as it is and it is unfortunate that we don’t have an
unbiased, informative, serious radio station,” said Alex Gillis of the
IWU.
Nationally,
the turnout at the rallies has been smaller, with some exceptions.
Organizers across the nation credit this to the hopes people have for
Obama to pass immigration reform, the fear of the consequences in
missing a day of work in difficult economic times, and a general
anti-immigrant climate with record numbers of raids and deportations
all across the nation.
The
Immigrant Workers' Union would like to thank the Madison community for
its continued support of immigrant workers and for this year’s
tremendous show of solidarity.
Latest Developments on Deportations from Dane County Jail
Today,
John Hendrick confirmed that county board supervisors are introducing
new legislation this Tuesday that will limit sheriff Mahoney’s
reporting of immigrants to I.C.E. He addressed the crowd
enthusiastically with “Que Queremos?!” and the crowd responded,
“Justice!” The new legislation was written departing from text created
by the Immigrant Workers’ Union in collaboration with local lawyers. “I am incredibly hopeful that this resolution will pass because it includes the spirit of our text,” said
Yvonne Geerts of the IWU. The policy is focused on the current actions
by sheriff Mahoney in calling I.C.E. on any non-US citizen that is
booked into the jail, even those who are just waiting to pay bail, “We
ask that the sheriff not notify I.C.E. because people are innocent
until proven guilty and that is due process in this country.” she added.
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