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Bolivian musician Manuel Monroy, "Papirri", in Concert in Boston on May Day 2008  [Español pinche aqui.] The history of Manuel "Papirri" Monroy is one marked by the study of music, creativity, and cultural work. While he is definitely in the category of musicians of the "new song" movement from Latin America, his poetry and music escape some of the conventionalism of the movement. Manuel initiated his musical career playing classic guitar, but later on composed his own songs and became famous at various social song festivals. In 1980, under the dictatorship of General Garcia Meza he was forced to go into exile in Mexico and was able to return to Bolivia only in 1984. More recently, in November of 2005 Manuel donated the rights of his song "Pajpaku-Tinku contra el ALCA" (against the free trade agreement) to support the presidential campaign of the peasant leader, Evo Morales. Beyond his social committment, Manuel is a virtuoso of the guitar, but also an excellent player of the Bolivian instrument, the charango. Manuel's performance at Encuentro 5 was received with ovations by the people in attendance. He was accompanied in percussion by bolivian Berklee College of music student, Enrique Lara. Papirri's recital was a fitting closing for the celebration of International Workers Day. You can have a taste of Manuel's music at the following links: For those who speak Spanish, Manuel's official site is www.papirri.com To download a flyer for the event in color click here. To download a flyer for the event in black and white click here. [ + ] The Migrant Workers’ Struggle in South Korea and International Solidarity  As the issue of immigration has come to center stage in policy debate in the United States over the last several years, grassroots organizations, NGOs and labor unions have put forth strong calls for increased rights form immigrants, pathways to citizenship and an end to raids and deportations. While organizing, public education and lobbying efforts have been lively, however, as with many movements in the U.S., discussion of the issue’s international dimension has been relatively lacking. In fact, the issues of immigration policy reform and undocumented immigrants/migrants are central to countries across Europe and Asia. At the same time struggles against raids and deportations and for immigrant/migrant workers’ labor and human rights are growing in many of these countries. Of these, the struggle in South Korea is significant for the central role played by undocumented migrant workers organizing as part of the labor movement. [ + ] STOP THE WAR ON IMMIGRANTS!
STOP THE RAIDS! Statement by the Boston May Day Coalition about the ICE raid at the Market Basket in Chelsea, Massachusetts
[ + ] TWO PETITIONS TO PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WERE LAUNCHED ON MAY 1, 2007 The Boston May Day Coalition has launched a national campaign demanding that the U.S. government sign the United Nations Convention on Rights for Migrant Workers and Their Families, and that President Bush issue a moratorium on immigration raids and deportations. What it is needed now is to stop repression of migrant workers and pass a fair, just and humane legislation to find a solution to the exploitation and victimization of nearly 12 million undocumented migrant workers and their families. President Bush can issue a simple executive order on humanitarian terms over Homeland Security to halt the raids carried out by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
[ + ] We say NO to the new Corporate designed immigration plans! In bipartisan and falsely described “comprehensive immigration reform” proposals, many undocumented migrant workers in this country may be transformed into criminals at the stroke of a pen. Legislative proposals from the Bush administration and before Congress seek to intensify government repression and criminalize immigrants. The Bush administration has proposed a plan for undocumented immigrants that would make them eligible for renewable three-year work permits at $3,500 and force them to leave and re-enter the country and pay a fine of $10,000 in order to become legal residents. The Bush fee of $13,500 amounts to an expensive coyote plan that would exceed the price coyotes charge for migrant border crossings several times over!
[ + ] Boston Delegation to the World Social Forum 2007 in Nairobi Kenya Proposed Transnational Unity in the Struggle for Migrant Workers Rights in the World An important number of different organizations from around the world working for migrant workers rights converged in Nairobi, Kenya during the World Social Forum, from January 20 to the 25. The Boston Delegation introduced a proposal that stressed the need to join forces in the world to confront the injustices of a condition created by contemporary capitalism: large masses of migrant workers desperately seeking work to survive. In that process workers and their families are abused, victimized, exploited and discriminated.
[ + ] Migrant Rights = Human Rights Final Statement of the Assembly on Migration, 7th World Social Forum, Nairobi, Kenya - January 24, 2007
[ + ] Derechos de Emigrantes = Derechos Humanos Declaración Final de la Asamblea sobre Migraciones Foro Social Mundial, Nairobi, Kenia – Enero 24, 2007 Nosotros, participantes del 7mo. Foro Social Mundial (FSM), organizaciones de solidaridad, agencias no-gubernamentales, redes nacionales e internacionales, movimientos de base, hombres y mujeres, deseamos presentar por medio de esta declaración final las ideas que compartimos durante el FSM al igual que nuestras propuestas para la acción.
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"Stop the Raids and Deportations!" Booming Demand at May Day Rally 2008 on the Common [ + ] March 6: Boston in Solidarity with the Victims of State Repression in Colombia [ + ] Local coalition succesfully protests Felipe Calderon at Harvard University [ + ] Protest Against ICE Raids, An Act of Love in the Freezing Cold of Boston  Boston, January 28, 2008. The Boston May Day Coalition called for a "speak-out against ICE raids on undocumented migrant workers", in the context of a week of transnational action ending January 26. The International Council of the World Social Forum decided that instead of convening its eighth World Forum this year (2008), it would conduct a global week of action. Considering the USA’s war against immigrant workers and particularly “undocumented” workers, The Boston May Day Coalition chose to respond to the vicious character of recent raids in the state of Massachusetts. The first massive raid was conducted almost a year ago (in March 2007) by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Bedford. More desolation and raids in the cities of Nantucket, Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, Somerville and most recently Milford followed this initial raid. The Boston May Day Coalition denounces what appears to be a media strategy to justify ICE raids as a search for “criminals”. The Boston May Day Coalition denounces and condemns all ICE raids against immigrants and calls upon people not to be deceived by this strategy. [ + ] El problema migratorio es un asunto internacional - Boston conmemora el Día Internacional de los Emigrantes [ + ] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "migrants are assets to society". [ + ] We condemn ICE Raid in Milford, Mass. and protest insensitive media reporting about it
[ + ] 2008 U.N. Migration Forum to Focus on Rights Protection [ + ] 38th National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts. No Thanksgiving. Migrant Repression Acknowledged. [ + ] New York Governor Eliot Spitzer Drops Effort to Grant Driver's Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants [ + ] Stop the War on Immigrants and Stop the Wars Abroad [ + ] PROTEST ICE RAIDS IN CHELSEA, A SANCTUARY CITY [ + ] Las redadas de ICE: una guerra psicológica que aterroriza a nuestras comunidades El martes 28 de agosto, para la gente que vive en el área de East Boston y Chelsea en Massachusetts parecía que la ciudad estaba bajo estado de sitio. Destacamentos de la policía de control de inmigraciones y aduanas (ICE) del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional y otras fuerzas policiales se movilizaban por las calles de la ciudad creando pánico entre los trabajadores emigrantes y sus familias. Un organizador comunitario que divisó a los agentes de ICE en la estación de transporte Maverick apuntó su cámara fotográfica en dirección al grupo. Este fue inmediatamente rodeado, su cámara temporalmente confiscada, interrogado, y se le requirió que mostrara sus documentos de identificación. Eventualmente lo dejaron ir. Por coincidencia un reportero radial que conocía al organizador se detuvo para preguntar que era lo que estaba sucediendo. Los agentes de ICE le ordenaron que saliera de ahí. Pero, con esto se activo una alarma en la comunidad y las ondas de la radio en español 1600 AM pronto se llenaron de llamadas indicando sobre mas actividad de la policía de ICE en la ciudad. Todo esto sucedió desde las 6 de la mañana hasta el mediodía.
[ + ] USSF SECOND DAY OF WORK ON MIGRANT WORKERS RIGHTS [ + ] IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AT THE U.S. SOCIAL FORUM
[ + ] STOP THE RAIDS AND DEPORTATIONS!
FULL LEGALIZATION FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS NOW!
NO GUEST WORKERS PROGRAMS [ + ] NATIONAL DEMANDS FOR MAY DAY 2007 The following demands were adopted unanimously with one abstention by the National Conference of the National May First Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, Feb. 4, 2007.
[ + ] BOSTON MAY DAY COALITION CALL TO ACTION FOR MAY 1, 2007 [ + ] NEW BEDFORD MIGRANT WORKERS ARE NOT THE ENEMY [ + ] STATEMENT OF MARK LAURITSEN BEFORE THE WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT PANEL BRIEFING U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
[ + ] Visits: 20069
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Boston, March 10, 2008.- Last Thursday, on March 6, the Boston May Day Coalition, MLK Bolivarian Circle, Permanent Committee for Peace in Colombia, and Chelsea United Against the War, joined in location at Park Street a vigil called by Colombia Vive. With respect for the activity called by Colombia Vive, these groups expressed their own position about the tragic and dramatic situation in Colombia. This coalition, however, demonstrated in solidarity with the initial call made in Colombia to denounce the crimes of the State and the paramilitary and demand that repression be stopped now.
A coalition of local progressive organizations and individuals protested the policies of the Mexican government represented by its President, Felipe Calderón as he addresses Harvard's JFK Forum on February 11, 2008. The chants of the demostrators filled the air as they remembered the struggle of the mexican people with "Zapata vive, Chiapas vive, Oaxaca vive! ... la lucha sigue y sigue!" (Zapata, Chiapas, Oaxaca are alive! ... and the struggle moves forward!). The coalition included the Boston Anti-Authoritarian Movement, Mass. Global Action, Boston May Day Coalition, Sacco and Vanzetti Commemoration Society, Socialist Party U.S.A., IWW, Socialist Alternative, Anti-fascist/Anti-capitalist Network, Northeast Anti-Authoritarian Network, Students for a Democratic Society and others.
Boston, 18 de diciembre de 2007. Por primera vez se conmemoró en Boston el Día Internacional de los Emigrantes. Este año marca el octavo año desde que las Naciones Unidas establecieran dicha efeméride. El evento organizado por la Coalición Primero de Mayo de Boston (CPMB) se realizó en Encuentro5, un centro comunitario ubicado en Chinatown. Una diversa audiencia escucho presentaciones hechas por Roy Wagner de CPMB, Gabriel Camacho, Proyecto Voz de American Friends Service Committee, Nelson Brill, National Lawyers Guild, Lisa Fuller, Comité en Solidaridad con el Pueblo del Salvador, Lucy Pineda, Latinos Unidos de Massachussets, Patricia Montes, Centro Presente, y Dorotea Manuela, CPMB.
December 18, 2007.- Today marks the eighth International Migrants Day, an occasion that grows more meaningful with each passing year.
Last Friday, December 7, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents "supported" by the Milford Police Department raided an immigrant community again. They arrested 15 undocumented migrant workers. Reports indicate that most were from Ecuador. The media, uncritical and sympathetic to ICE reported that the workers were charged for violating criminal laws.
U.N. News Service- 11/27/07 -- Protecting the rights of the world’s 200 million migrants – a vital issue for countries of origin, transit and destination – will take centre stage at a United Nations-backed meeting to be held next year in the Philippines, officials associated with the event said today.
Again this year like 37 times before a group of hundreds of native people and supporters gathered in Plymouth to hear truths most people ignore or don't want to hear. This is not the history of fake harmony commemorating the so-called first thanksgiving, but a history of destruction, appropriation and genocide by European invaders in the Americas.
November 15, 2007 -- New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer announced Wednesday that he is dropping his plan to grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. The plan had drawn praise from immigrant rights activists, but fierce opposition from Republicans and many Democrats. Spitzer spoke to the press on Wednesday.
The United States launched an all-out war to control areas in the Middle East that was deemed of strategic importance. The tragic event of September 11, 2001 gave the Bush Administration the green light to move thousands of U.S. military forces across the world and attack first Afghanistan and later Iraq. Congress has continued to allocate billions of dollars to finance this war with no end in sight. The extent of civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq are of enormous proportions. There is a legal body in place that has shamelessly allowed violations of human rights that affect all aspects of our lives. Two fundamental elements are used to continue this unfortunate state of affairs: the Patriot Act and Homeland Security.
Twice in one month ICE police and other forces have raided immigrants in the City of Chelsea, Massachusetts after its city council proclaimed it sanctuary city on June 4. The first raid took place on August 8 at the parking lot of the Market Basket. Then ICE explained they were going after criminal elements trafficking in falsified documents. They detained about 30 brazilian people, and released seven names to the press.
Atlanta, GA - 6/30/07. Everywhere you turn you will see familiar signs and symbols. As a great contradiction of the work progressives do in the U.S., places like the largest phalic-like tower of the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta, are full of radical and progressive activity. Other transnational corporations like the Marriott also enjoy the business of U.S. Social Forum visitors. In other less bourgeois hotels like the Super 8 Motel downtown where we are staying, we know that we are sharing the place with another large gathering, the Full Gospel Convention. Meanwhile, the taxi driver asked us what was going on at the Civic Center, because he saw people dressed in the most strange attires and didn't know what kind of religion they were representing.
Atlanta, GA - Friday, 6/29/97.- The U.S. Social Forum is in progress with workshops, presentations and plennaries that cover almost all areas of struggle in this attempt to build "another world." The small Boston May Day Coalition has been present in as many migrant workers workshops as humanly possible. The concept of "migrant worker" is not popular in the forum. Most of the events are labeled "immigrant rights". 
May 2, 2007 -- Again we rallied and marched to demand from the system to stop the immigration raids and deportations and full legalization for all immigrants, now. At its peak there were about 750 people, of all nationalities showing their support for our repressed, victimized and exploited undocumented brothers and sisters. Again we clearly made the connection with International Workers Day and the need to reclaim this day for working people. At about 5:15pm we marched to Copley Square and the streets of Boston resounded to the chants of "Stop the raids, now!, What do we want? Legalization. When do we want it? Now!, and Si, se puede!".
From the land where May Day was born we call on our sisters and brothers worldwide and ask you to stand together with us in an international campaign defending the rights of the 200 million migrant workers worldwide. We ask working people worldwide to extend your hands in our direction and to add your voices to ours in a celebration of solidarity. This year let International Workers Day be “the day of the migrant worker”— a day when working people came together to say: “United we stand, divided we fall. An injury to one is an injury to all.” Let this year bring us a step closer to recovering May Day as our national Labor Day as it is celebrated by millions worldwide commemorating the May 1st, 1886 mass strike for the 8-hour day.
Massachusetts, March 6, 2007. An army of 300 federal immigration agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has conducted yet another military style raid on migrant workers in the country. This time it was the turn for an East Coast location, New Bedford, Massachusetts where scores of workers were taken away. ICE, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security explains that their objective is "to more effectively enforce our immigration and customs laws and to protect the U.S. against terrorist attacks. ICE does this by targeting illegal immigrants: the people, the money and materials that support terrorism and other criminal activities." (From their website "About us" section).
Last Tuesday morning, 13,000 workers clocked in to work as they do every day. They didn’t know that government agents would soon storm their worksites dressed in riot gear, brandishing military weapons and locking the doors to prevent anyone from coming in or out. Their mission involved a warrant ICE had obtained to apprehend 170 individuals suspected of identity theft.