Thursday, February 16th at 6:pm @ E5 33 Harrison Ave. 5th floor Boston (Chinatown)
Organizing meeting for May 1, 2012 in Boston
More info: Dorotea Manuela or Jennifer Zaldana, 617-922-5744

Cambridge City Council Passes Resolution Urging the U.S. Government to Sign the U.N. Convention on Migrants Rights

The Cambridge City Council passed a resolution, presented by Councilor Marjorie Decker, on its session of December 5, declaring December 18, 2011 and annually thereafter, as International Migrants Day in Cambridge. It also urges the U.S. Government to sign and ratify the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families and to similarly recognize December 18, 2011, as International Migrants Day. The Resolution also resolved to recognize the many contributions of immigrants and refugees to society as a whole.

Pictured from bottom l-r, Councilors Decker, Vice-Mayor Davis, Simmons, Toomey, Kelley, Cheung, Seidel, Reeves, Mayor Maher

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U.S. Call to Action on December 18: a Global Day of Action Against Racism and for the Rights of Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People

In the US, we see increased enforcement and targeting of immigrant communities given priority over just solutions. We have witnessed 1 million people deported under the Obama administration, increased criminalization of immigrant families with federal programs like the misnamed “Secure Communities” and the spread of harsh anti-immigrant state legislation. We see the militarization of the border and the inability of Congress to pass even something as basic as the DREAM Act. All the while, the US plays a main role in creating the roots of migration - exploiting the people of the global south through unjust trade policies, supporting repressive regimes and military conflict – all factors in preventing people from fulfilling their right to work and live in their home territory.

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Lessons from the struggle to defeat racist anti-immigrant amendments to the Massachusetts State Budget for FY 2012

3-Jul-2011.- This year again the Massachusetts Budget was the field that anti-immigrant politicians chose to include their nasty venom. We had a similar experience last year that was met with fierce resistance by immigrant rights advocates lead by the young people of the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM). Just like last year most of the racist, anti-immigrants amendments were either withdrawn or rejected but some elements remained. Therefore the victories were significant but partial.

The strategies used in this grassroots campaign however are very important for the movement nationwide.

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Stop Hateful Anti-Immigrant 2011 Budget Amendements in Massachusetts

06-24-2011.- Again the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM) is leading the way to oppose a set of amendments included in the budget of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that seek to deny basic human services to undocumented workers and students. SIM established a vigil camp outside the main entrance of the State House which started last monday June 20. At the same time they have galvanized support in a coalition called Mass Hope 2011. The coalition includes the National Lawyers Guild, Matahari Eye of the Day, Jobs with Justice, the New Sanctuary Movement, Arlington Street Church, Asian American Resource Workshop, MIRA, Unite Here Local 26, Dominical Development Center, Centro Presente, the Boston May Day Committee, Cambridge/Somerville for Change, PHENOM, International Action Center, Harvard SLAM, Mass. Coalition for Domestic Workers, SEIU Local 615, Brazilian Immigrant Center, Chinese Progressive Association, API Movement, Resist the Raids, Moise Kavod House, AFSC, and Projeto Nos Votamos. The coalition continues to grow and if your organization has not done so, it should do it in a hurry.

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Boston May Day 2011 at the Rose Kennedy Greenway Park

Let's commemorate International Workers Day this year with a rally at 12 noon at the Rose Kennedy Greenway Park, accross from the Haymarket T Station, in the corner of Cross and Hanover streets in Boston.

After the rally we will take the T to East Boston to join in the East Boston March to the May 1 rally in Chelsea.

We demand:

1. Stop attacks on workers!
2. Stop the detention and deportation of migrant workers and their families!
3. Immediate permanent residency for all undocumented migrant workers!
4. No racist profiling Secure Communities programs!
5. Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!
6. Unity of all workers to defend our rights!
7. International unity for immigrant rights.

Special performance by the radical theater group Bread and Puppet

Sponsored by the Boston May Day Committee (Mass. Global Action, ANSWER Coalition, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Alternative, Socialist Party, July 26 Coalition, Tecschange, Latinos for Social Change).

Endorsed by (list in progress): Asian American Resource Workshop, Boston School Bus Drivers' Union, Boston United National Antiwar Committee, Centro de Trabajadores de MassCOSH, Chelsea Uniting Against the War, Circulo Bolivariano MLK, Dominican Development Center, Frente Uruguayo, Haymarket Peoples Fund, Immigration Pastoral Center, Industrial Workers of the World, International Action Center, Mata Hari Eye of the Day, National Lawyers Guild - Mass. Chapter, NEFAC, Network for Immigrant and African Americans in Solidarity, Proyecto Hondureño, Resist the Raids, Sacco and Vanzetti Commemoration Society, Stop the Wars Coalition, Student Labor Action Movement, Union of Minority Neighborhoods, Women's Fightback Network, Workers International League, Workers World Party.

For organizational endorsements please write to info[@]bostonmayday.org

To download a Word single page flyer click here.
To download a pdf single page flyer click here.

To download Word a 2-up flyer click here.
To download a pdf 2-up flyer click here.

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Boston May Day 2011 Event on Facebook

Our event is live on Facebook. To indicate if you are planning to attend or simply to visit the event page click here. If you have a Facebook account please pass the information on to your friends.

To sign the petition, click here.

Democrats in the Massachusetts Senate who voted racist and anti-immigrant

The great majority of Senators who are members of the Democratic Party voted in favor of anti-immigrant amendments that would deprive undocumented immigrant of medical and social services. The amendement also would allow for the creation of a free 800 number to report on suspected undocumented immigrants. The Massachusetts Senate is composed of 35 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Only five decent democrats had the guts to vote against the anti-immigrant amendment. To see the roll call check on the link below.

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Immigration Reform 2010: We Need a Better Alternative

March 22, 2010.- Oakland, California - Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced Thursday (3/18) their plan for immigration reform. Unfortunately, it is a retread, recycling the same bad ideas that led to the defeat of reform efforts over the last five years. In some ways, their proposal is even worse.

Schumer and Graham dramatize the lack of new ideas among Washington power brokers. Real immigration reform requires a real alternative. We need a different framework that embodies the goals of immigrants and working people, not the political calculations of a reluctant Congress.

What's wrong with the Schumer/Graham proposal?

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