This conference is about complex identities in education and will address issues around immigration. Our group, ISWI, has 45 minutes on Saturday, May 29th, to discuss our work and goals. Please contact Jayme (purplejayme@gmail.com) if you are interested or able to come!!
Of Borders and Bridges
Conference Schedule
Saturday May 22
1:00 Greeting
1:10 Jackie Chromey and Katie Richardson
Discussion about immigration related curriculum and the curriculum they have developed- Why does Immigration Matter to Me? Also cover some theoretical frameworks around identity investment, multicultural education and issues with the way national identity is constructed in public education
1:50 Dr. Laura Valdiviezo, Amherst Public Schools, Redistricting, Supporting Teachers and CLD Students
2:30 Manos Unidas- Anaelisa Vanegas
3:10 Dr. Nelida Matos- Family Involvement in Schools
3:50 Pioneer Valley Project- Maria Cuerda, Luis Perez and Fred Rose
4:30 International Language Institute of Massachusetts
4:55 Closing Thoughts
Saturday May 29
1:00 Greeting
1:15 Jackie Chromey and Katie Richardson
Discussion about immigration related curriculum and the curriculum they have developed- Why does Immigration Matter to Me? Also cover some theoretical frameworks around identity investment, multicultural education and issues with the way national identity is constructed in public education.
2:00 Jeff Napolitano- Comprehensive Immigration Reform
2:45 Hannah Marie Rhein- Bilingual Immigration related photo book
3:30 Clenghorn Neighborhood Center- Dolores Thibault-Muñoz and Joana Dos Santos
4:15 In Solidarity with Immigrants (ISWI)- 5 College student group
4:55 Closing Thoughts
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Dream Act
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/18/headlines#10
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/18/yo_soy_el_army_us_military
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/18/yo_soy_el_army_us_military
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Do I Look Illegal To You? RALLY
So today, May 8th, there was a rally held at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Speakers ranged from UMass professors to volunteer lawyers to an Amherst city councilman to community organizers. I'd like to share some information gathered because it will be important for this group to connect to work being done at other campuses and in this region more broadly. I didn't take notes for all speakers so what follows is merely a snapshot.
Maria Cuerda spoke as a member of the Pioneer Valley Project and part of a legal resources project in North Springfield which tries to provide consultation and representation when needed. She said they (probably with other groups as well) are trying to pass an ordinance in Springfield that would require police to use languages other than English if that is what is needed.
Vladimir Morales was next and a very interesting, inspiring figure in local politics. Nearly 60, originally from the South Bronx but a resident here in Amherst for 28 years, Morales has been active in the immigrant rights movement for many years. In 1996 he was at the head of pressing (and passing!) the Legal Resident Alien's Right to Vote act. This means constitutional, legal involvement in local elections, not state or national. He mentioned that this is currently needed in Boston - and everywhere, right?? Major cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C. already have this in place. In talking he said he would be interested in giving a workshop/talk on how local politics operate around here, from years of experience. I think in the fall this would be really great to have for students and community members.
Currently, Morales is pushing for the Select Board and Chair members to pass a resolution boycotting major Arizona based businesses. I have a petition if you want to sign on BUT YOU HAVE to be an Amherst registered voter. If possible, everyone should register as an Amherst voter so that we can sign more local petitions and vote in local elections. Morales mentioned that this boycott is a related resolution to a potential Sanctuary Status one, and is addressing the same issue of immigrant rights and responsibility of local governments in a different way. Good to know we have a knowledgeable, friendly, committed ally on the council.
For more information on boycott resolutions: nowaysb1070@gmail.com
The American Friends Service Committee is pushing for a similar resolution in Springfield, as well as Sanctuary City ordinances in several local cities. Jeff Napolitano is real cool and dedicated, if you don't know his name already.
Major companies that you can help boycott: US AIRWAYS, GODADDY (website makers), and UHAUL. Make sure if you interact with any of these companies that you tell them why you aren't going to support them.
Spirit Child, a hip hop artist and a member of the artist collective, Movement in Motion, performed. The Movement in Motion is an artist and activist collective that disseminates information through cultural mediums. They create rhymes, music, films, and other forms of artwork to dialogue with their respective communities. www.movementinmotion.org
After a constitutional law professor and a cultural studies professor spoke, TK, a member of the Food for Thought Books Collective and other organizations, solidly and eloquently connected immigrant struggles to LGBTQ struggles and emphasized that immigrants rights should be a priority for all queers and allies. She is helping with the push for the Arizona boycott resolution.
Finally, William Cano of the Alliance to Develop Power which did a lot to put on this week of actions at UMass, made some final comments about how these are issues for all to be passionate about, no matter documentation status or race.
While this action was largely about Arizona's bill, SB1070, the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act," we should remember that this trend is far from isolated to only Arizona. Rather, this is part of national, historic efforts to differentiate "Mexican" from "Anglo" for the sake of national priorities and mainstream society's intents. When we contextualize this bill in a larger frame, we can see how important it is to pay attention locally.
in solidarity,
jayme
Maria Cuerda spoke as a member of the Pioneer Valley Project and part of a legal resources project in North Springfield which tries to provide consultation and representation when needed. She said they (probably with other groups as well) are trying to pass an ordinance in Springfield that would require police to use languages other than English if that is what is needed.
Vladimir Morales was next and a very interesting, inspiring figure in local politics. Nearly 60, originally from the South Bronx but a resident here in Amherst for 28 years, Morales has been active in the immigrant rights movement for many years. In 1996 he was at the head of pressing (and passing!) the Legal Resident Alien's Right to Vote act. This means constitutional, legal involvement in local elections, not state or national. He mentioned that this is currently needed in Boston - and everywhere, right?? Major cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C. already have this in place. In talking he said he would be interested in giving a workshop/talk on how local politics operate around here, from years of experience. I think in the fall this would be really great to have for students and community members.
Currently, Morales is pushing for the Select Board and Chair members to pass a resolution boycotting major Arizona based businesses. I have a petition if you want to sign on BUT YOU HAVE to be an Amherst registered voter. If possible, everyone should register as an Amherst voter so that we can sign more local petitions and vote in local elections. Morales mentioned that this boycott is a related resolution to a potential Sanctuary Status one, and is addressing the same issue of immigrant rights and responsibility of local governments in a different way. Good to know we have a knowledgeable, friendly, committed ally on the council.
For more information on boycott resolutions: nowaysb1070@gmail.com
The American Friends Service Committee is pushing for a similar resolution in Springfield, as well as Sanctuary City ordinances in several local cities. Jeff Napolitano is real cool and dedicated, if you don't know his name already.
Major companies that you can help boycott: US AIRWAYS, GODADDY (website makers), and UHAUL. Make sure if you interact with any of these companies that you tell them why you aren't going to support them.
Spirit Child, a hip hop artist and a member of the artist collective, Movement in Motion, performed. The Movement in Motion is an artist and activist collective that disseminates information through cultural mediums. They create rhymes, music, films, and other forms of artwork to dialogue with their respective communities. www.movementinmotion.org
After a constitutional law professor and a cultural studies professor spoke, TK, a member of the Food for Thought Books Collective and other organizations, solidly and eloquently connected immigrant struggles to LGBTQ struggles and emphasized that immigrants rights should be a priority for all queers and allies. She is helping with the push for the Arizona boycott resolution.
Finally, William Cano of the Alliance to Develop Power which did a lot to put on this week of actions at UMass, made some final comments about how these are issues for all to be passionate about, no matter documentation status or race.
While this action was largely about Arizona's bill, SB1070, the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act," we should remember that this trend is far from isolated to only Arizona. Rather, this is part of national, historic efforts to differentiate "Mexican" from "Anglo" for the sake of national priorities and mainstream society's intents. When we contextualize this bill in a larger frame, we can see how important it is to pay attention locally.
in solidarity,
jayme
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
So this organization is doing a lot of good work. One thing they do is create model ordinances that folks can make specific to their locality -- like we're trying to do this summer. Here's what they say about the variety of ordinances they provide:
"BORDC has developed two model ordinances for consideration by city councils across the country. These ordinances, which will have the force of law where enacted, allow individual municipalities to do what the federal government will not: protect the fundamental rights and liberties of law-abiding Americans to be free of arbitrary monitoring, surveillance, detention, search, or arrest by local law enforcement authorities; and bring to justice senior government officials complicit in torture."
Here's their website -- http://www.bordc.org/
"BORDC has developed two model ordinances for consideration by city councils across the country. These ordinances, which will have the force of law where enacted, allow individual municipalities to do what the federal government will not: protect the fundamental rights and liberties of law-abiding Americans to be free of arbitrary monitoring, surveillance, detention, search, or arrest by local law enforcement authorities; and bring to justice senior government officials complicit in torture."
Here's their website -- http://www.bordc.org/
Thursday, May 6, 2010
UC Berkeley Students Striking about AZ's law
article here: http://www.dailycal.org/article/109401/hunger_strike_will_continue_through_weekend
By Katrina Escudero
About 18 students and union workers decided Thursday evening to continue their hunger strike into next week, when Chancellor Robert Birgeneau will return to UC Berkeley from Europe.
After an informal discussion Thursday afternoon between five members of the "Hungry for Justice Coalition," Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost George Breslauer and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Harry Le Grande, the strikers said that they will continue their protest until Birgeneau agrees to discuss their demands in person.
The strikers have been camped out in front of California Hall since Monday afternoon, surviving only on water laced with sugar and lemon. At the time of the discussion, the strikers had been without food for 75 hours.
After the representatives of the strikers spoke with Breslauer and Le Grande for nearly two hours, they addressed about 100 supporters outside of California Hall, saying their discussion was simply a dialogue, not a negotiation.
"We spoke mostly about the strikers' demands," said External Affairs Vice President-elect Ricardo Gomez, one of the five students in the meeting. "It was a good step towards moving towards what the hunger strikers want to accomplish."
In a statement released Wednesday, Birgeneau addressed each of the demonstrators' six demands and stated that he is "personally prepared" to speak out against the recently passed Arizona immigration law. However, he did not fully agree to the strikers' other demands.
The demonstrators said they stand by their prior demands, asking Birgeneau to publicly denounce Arizona's immigration law; make UC Berkeley a sanctuary campus and provide extended protections for undocumented students; drop all student conduct charges against student activists; stop cuts to low-wage employees; suspend conduct procedures and initiate a democratic, student-led process to review the code; and to commit to using nonviolent means of ensuring safety at student demonstrations in the future.
Claire Holmes, associate vice chancellor of communications and public affairs, said Birgeneau is in Europe on university affairs and will return Monday. She added that campus officials will try to reach out to strikers again Friday.
"They had a very good dialogue - we're in the process of digesting the information and the exchange," she said. "We're thinking hard about what commitments we can make. We are very concerned about their health and well-being, and we want them to end the protest."
The strikers urged the demonstrators to e-mail the administration with their personal stories of how the Arizona law affects them in order for the administration to understand how the immigration law impacts UC Berkeley students.
"To see the protesters here gives me energy," said UC Berkeley sophomore Alejandro Jimenez while addressing the strikers. "I encourage you to stay strong, to hang in there and to know that you are inspiring a lot of people, keep it up."
By Katrina Escudero
About 18 students and union workers decided Thursday evening to continue their hunger strike into next week, when Chancellor Robert Birgeneau will return to UC Berkeley from Europe.
After an informal discussion Thursday afternoon between five members of the "Hungry for Justice Coalition," Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost George Breslauer and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Harry Le Grande, the strikers said that they will continue their protest until Birgeneau agrees to discuss their demands in person.
The strikers have been camped out in front of California Hall since Monday afternoon, surviving only on water laced with sugar and lemon. At the time of the discussion, the strikers had been without food for 75 hours.
After the representatives of the strikers spoke with Breslauer and Le Grande for nearly two hours, they addressed about 100 supporters outside of California Hall, saying their discussion was simply a dialogue, not a negotiation.
"We spoke mostly about the strikers' demands," said External Affairs Vice President-elect Ricardo Gomez, one of the five students in the meeting. "It was a good step towards moving towards what the hunger strikers want to accomplish."
In a statement released Wednesday, Birgeneau addressed each of the demonstrators' six demands and stated that he is "personally prepared" to speak out against the recently passed Arizona immigration law. However, he did not fully agree to the strikers' other demands.
The demonstrators said they stand by their prior demands, asking Birgeneau to publicly denounce Arizona's immigration law; make UC Berkeley a sanctuary campus and provide extended protections for undocumented students; drop all student conduct charges against student activists; stop cuts to low-wage employees; suspend conduct procedures and initiate a democratic, student-led process to review the code; and to commit to using nonviolent means of ensuring safety at student demonstrations in the future.
Claire Holmes, associate vice chancellor of communications and public affairs, said Birgeneau is in Europe on university affairs and will return Monday. She added that campus officials will try to reach out to strikers again Friday.
"They had a very good dialogue - we're in the process of digesting the information and the exchange," she said. "We're thinking hard about what commitments we can make. We are very concerned about their health and well-being, and we want them to end the protest."
The strikers urged the demonstrators to e-mail the administration with their personal stories of how the Arizona law affects them in order for the administration to understand how the immigration law impacts UC Berkeley students.
"To see the protesters here gives me energy," said UC Berkeley sophomore Alejandro Jimenez while addressing the strikers. "I encourage you to stay strong, to hang in there and to know that you are inspiring a lot of people, keep it up."
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May Day! 11 anarchists arrested in Asheville!
Attention! 11 anarchists were arrested in Asheville, NC on Saturday as a part of May Day protests. They are currently each being charged with three felony charges each (more or less, the charges on one of the accused are unclear) and their bails are set at $65,000 each! It is incredibly important that we show solidarity with these folx, lovers! Comrades in Asheville threw newspaper vending machines through the windows of some stores and are now being charged with felony rioting. Whether you agree with the action or not, I do not think any of us agree with prison, and felony charges are no joke.
-http://denverabc.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/asheville-may-day-arrestees-need-your-help/
corporate media resource:
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100503/NEWS01/100503038
I will be updating this post as I gain more information, I personally have friends/comrades in Asheville. Show your support!
"UPDATE 5/4/11 4PM MST: Thanks to an amazing outpouring of support, several people are being bailed out today. It’s not over yet, though — keep it coming!
UPDATE 5/3/11 12AM MST: Bail has been raised to $65,000 each. Your support is more crucial than ever!
UPDATE 5/3/10 5PM MST: Sorry for the prior confusion, the following has been confirmed: All arrestees appeared in court today and each faces 3 pending felony charges on top of the 10 misdemeanors, one of which will be felony rioting. The judge raised bail on each person (with one possible exception) to $50,000. The arrestees will all appear in court again tomorrow, and the felony charges are expected to be filed then. See this news article for more.
* this post will remain at the top of our blog for a few days *
A call for solidarity to the 11 arrested in Asheville, re-posted from Infoshop News:
Eleven people were arrested here yesterday evening, including folks from Milwaukee, Carrboro, Raleigh, Asheville, and OKC. Ten people have $10,000 bail and seven counts of misdemeanor damage to personal property, three counts of misdemeanor damage to real property; one person has $11,000 bail and an extra charge. One person has been bailed out by their family so far.
Everyone will be arraigned tomorrow at 8:30am, so we’ll know more then. Their charges and bail may change, and we may be able to get folks out then. We haven’t heard much from the people inside, so we aren’t sure who wants to be bailed out right now. We’ll update y’all once we have more information.
As you can probably tell, we could use cash money. We’re working on getting a paypal set up, but if you’d like to wire us money or send us checks, email howdotheywork@gmail.com.
More news as it comes! Thanks for all of the love and solidarity that’s been pouring in already, and good luck to everyone else who got in trouble yesterday."
corporate media resource:
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100503/NEWS01/100503038
I will be updating this post as I gain more information, I personally have friends/comrades in Asheville. Show your support!
Notes and Thoughts from meeting!!!
ISWI minutes, April 30, 2010
Agenda? plans and things we want to keep in mind and in conversation about:
5 college alliance- Amherst College students/Hampshire students
--involvement of non-students
---grassroots
Sanctuary City
ICE Castles
language skill sharing- any language you know! let’s teach other! let’s learn! Not just Spanish and English but both of those are great!
safety for undocumented students/folx
connecting with Francisco
EPEC course at Hampshire- other student-taught course about immigration/immigrant rights
screenings, art
Susanna Loza- “Papers”?
safety network for undocumented folx traveling!
fighting the criminalization of undocumented folx
Amherst City Council- anarchist/social ecologist
Barbara- working in Cultural Center and in touch w/ Francisco
Alex Van Leer- voices, representation, Students for Justice in Palestine networking and connections
away this semester- in contact, media work
Lindsey- talking about summer plans, US Social Forum
Nate- timing, end of semester
Anike- ICE castles, revealing them, being vocal, access
Luis- Amherst College, structure
Nico- signing for hamp ISWI branch
Kasha- also signing for ISWI, medical support, lack of care at detainment centers
Issues that were raised about May Day/Pride:
connections to queer issues and ideals!
policing of bodies, subjugation of bodies
gay marriage- doesn’t necessarily help legal status, or other immigration worker equality issues
policy struggle
Governor Brewer- against queers, for concealed weapons without a permit
Marriage Equality-
“2nd class citizens”- what about folx who are not considered citizens at all??
On Amherst as a Sanctuary City:
Sanctuary status is much more of a symbol than a guarantee of safety- though an important symbol and message-
---wedge in the door, law enforcement has broad powers in Amherst, racial profiling is a problem here
anecdote: NYC: folks posed as sheriffs to evict undocumented family to make room for a shelter!
We would like to:
record video of experiences w/ICE, immigration services, arrests, profiling, personal/political
Gallery student voices, Melissa at Cultural Center
UNESCO-- Actively Anti-Racist Municipalities
---Amherst is already “Fair Trade” town
----using history of town
bringing in outside speakers
talk to Emma Rodick (Bill of Rights Defense Committee)
---putting ordinance together! collecting information now!
Goals:
-Ordinance- research over summer (Jayme)
-meeting with council members (present ourselves as students)
Summer Research, Political Climate Committee:
Ari
Jayme
Alex
that all??
By the end of year we want a strategy conversation
Make a Doodle has this already happened?
--MEETING FRIDAY- MOD 61 IF WEATHER IS NOT NICE, BACK ON THE LIBRARY LAWN IF IT IS! :)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Holyoke Takes Up Immigration Equity Bill
Interesting article found in the Valley Advocate:
http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=11632
"Holyoke is a city that derives a deep sense of pride from its immigrant history. Now a city councilor is asking his colleagues to voice their support for a proposed federal law that would extend rights already given to immigrant partners in straight couples to gay couples, too.
Last week, Ward 4 City Councilor Tim Purington brought to the Council a resolution supporting the Uniting American Families Act. The bill would rewrite federal immigration law to allow gay Americans to sponsor non-American permanent partners or spouses for legal residency in the U.S. Currently, the law only allows that right to legally married straight couples.
A "permanent partner" is defined in the bill as an adult involved "in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of age or older in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment." The two must be "financially interdependent," and neither may be married to anyone else. The proposed law would also provide rights to the children of the non-U.S. partner."
http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=11632
"Holyoke is a city that derives a deep sense of pride from its immigrant history. Now a city councilor is asking his colleagues to voice their support for a proposed federal law that would extend rights already given to immigrant partners in straight couples to gay couples, too.
Last week, Ward 4 City Councilor Tim Purington brought to the Council a resolution supporting the Uniting American Families Act. The bill would rewrite federal immigration law to allow gay Americans to sponsor non-American permanent partners or spouses for legal residency in the U.S. Currently, the law only allows that right to legally married straight couples.
A "permanent partner" is defined in the bill as an adult involved "in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual 18 years of age or older in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment." The two must be "financially interdependent," and neither may be married to anyone else. The proposed law would also provide rights to the children of the non-U.S. partner."
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