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