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Workers' Rights are Human Rights

May Day 2008

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) nationwide immigrant and refugee rights network will host or co-sponsor a series of community educational and cultural events to celebrate this year’s May 1st International Workers Day.

AFSC continues to call on the nation’s leaders to honor and respect the constitutional rights of all workers regardless of their immigration status in the United States.  AFSC urges the White House and Congressional leaders to support an immediate end to community and worksite raids; repeal the REAL ID Act, which while purportedly creating a “secure identification card” for the nation’s workforce also treads on the civil liberties of all workers and if implemented is projected to cost taxpayers more than $5 billion; and, return to a bipartisan dialogue leading to concrete and fair immigration policies and laws for current undocumented workers and future generations.

The planned activities in several of the nation’s cities pay tribute to the resilience of immigrant and non-immigrant communities who despite punitive civil and human rights abuses, continue to work together toward an inclusive and fair nation.   The following activities are planned:

California

• Central Valley/Fresno – Thursday, May 1:  AFSC staff will accompany farm workers and their families participating in a rally and community march to Fresno.   For information contact Martin Cuevas by phone (559)733-4844 or email: mcuevas@afsc.org.
  
  
• San Diego County/Downtown/Barrio Logan – Thursday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. a united community march and rally will be held in front of San Diego City College.   The march has been organized by San Diego’s May 1st Coalition.   These activities will be followed by a People’s Assembly at 5:30 p.m., in Barrio Logan’s Chicano Park.  AFSC will accompany families and youth throughout these events.   The People’s Assembly has been organized by the Raza Rights Coalition.
  
  
• San Marcos – Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. a Community Rights Forum on Immigration will be held at Palomar College.   The forum is sponsored by the Palomar College Multicultural Studies Department, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) of Palomar College, the Escondido Human Rights Committee and AFSC’s San Diego office.  For further information contact (619) 233-4114 or usmexborder@afsc.org.

Colorado

• Aurora – Thursday, May 1st at 4:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Library (Colfax and Elmira) a celebration of International Workers Day will include a festival calling for tolerance, unity and respect.  The event is sponsored by AFSC’s Denver-based program and includes the participation of several groups including Coloradans for Immigrant Rights and the Comité del 1ro de Mayo.   For more information contact Gabriela Flora – (303) 623-3464 or at gflora@afsc.org.

Florida

• Florida City – Saturday, May 3rd at 2:00 p.m. at 450 Davis Parkway, a celebration of International Workers Day and Justice for Immigrants will include music, traditional dances and food plates from diverse regions.   The event is organized by Miami’s AFSC office, the Florida Agricultural Workers Association, Florida Immigrants Coalition, the South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice and others.  For information contact Herman Martinez at (305)252-6441 or hmartinez@afsc.org.

New England

• Boston – Thursday, May 1st at 2:30 p.m. a community march from East Boston Central Square to Chelsea Boston.   The event is organized by Boston’s AFSC program, Centro Presente, the United Methodist Church, Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church, United Food and Commercial Workers and other immigrant and human rights organizations.    For information contact Gabriel Camacho at (617) 661-6130 or at gcamacho@afsc.org
  
  
• Connecticut – A May Day gathering will take place on the New Haven Green and will include a march for immigrant and worker rights in Fairhaven.     Participants represent a broad-based coalition of labor, faith and community advocates.   For more information contact David Amdur at (860) 523-1534 or at  connecticut@afsc.org

North Carolina

• Charlotte’s Justice for Immigrants Rally will be held on May 1st and is expected to draw a multi-ethnic, multi-racial gathering of local labor organizations, faith and non-faith congregations and human rights advocates.  Worker rights are human rights! Justice for Immigrants, May 1st Rally in Support with immigrants.  For information contact Antonio Vazquez at (704) 568-3602 or at avasquez@afsc.org.

Texas

• Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition March and Rally for Justice – Thursday, May 1st – The rally will begin on the south steps of the Capitol at 4:30 p.m., with a march past the Travis County jail, and finishing at City Hall.  For information contact Josefina Castillo at (512) 474-2399 or at jcastillo@afsc.org.

Washington, D.C.

• Rally for Immigrant Rights at the National Mall (west of the Capitol Grounds) – Thursday, May 1st at 4:00 p.m. – The rally is supported by a broad-based coalition including AFSC’s Peace and Economic Justice Program.  For information contact Jean-Louis Peta Ikambana at 202-544-0324 or at jikambana@afsc.org.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.  AFSC supports the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their immigration status.

Project Voice, the AFSC immigrants’ rights initiative, works to uplift migrant voices and strengthen efforts of migrant-led organizations to set an agenda for fair and humane national public policies. AFSC has 90 years of direct community experience working in partnership with immigrants and refugees in the United States and throughout the world. 

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