Protesting Representative Tancredo
As People of North Carolina we denounce SB1070. We stand with the people of Arizona, in particular, immigrant communities, and the grassroots call to honor the dignity and human rights of all.
SB1070, approved by Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) on Friday, April 23 attacks immigrant communities by setting a precedent for vast human and civil rights violations through institutionalizing racial profiling and criminalization of immigrant workers. These laws are rooted in xenophobia and racism; they mandate racial profiling and are a direct attack on immigrant communities and communities of color.
In North Carolina we have seen the effects of anti-immigrant policies that have led to racial profiling. Like Arizona, we have been the testing ground for anti-immigrant policies. North Carolina has one of the highest number of 287(g) agreements and Secure Communities programs. As a state, we have suffered the effects of local enforcement as immigrant families are separated or live in fear of deportation.
We affirm the bold and heroic resistance of the people of Arizona who called, walked-out, picketed, protested, and took direct action to try to stop the passage of SB 1070. We know that the struggles in Arizona are directly connected to the struggles we face in North Carolina; they are on the frontlines and we must reinforce, support, and follow their lead in challenging this xenophobic and racist reaction. Their struggle for justice is ours and their victories and set-backs ripple across the fabric of the movement for human rights and liberation.
In light of the demands of our sisters and brothers in Arizona, we support their call for boycotts and divestment from Arizona, including ceasing tourism and divesting from entities in which Arizona is economically invested. Arizona, as an apartheid state, must be choked economically and pressured to repeal.
We call on the people of North Carolina to support our sisters and brothers in Arizona by sending money to grassroots-led organizations, sending solidarity caravans, and answering their calls to action as they continue to pressure Governor Brewer and other policy-makers. We also call on President Obama to end ICE ACCESS programs and put a moratorium on all deportations until just and comprehensive immigration reform is realized. Let us support caravans to Arizona and let us support local actions and organizing here in North Carolina!
We join the call for a national May Day of multi-ethnic unity with youth, labor and justice communities in solidarity with immigrant workers. Together we must build a new immigrant rights & workers rights movement!
On May Day, International Workers Day, we demand:
- No to anti-immigrant legislation, and the criminalization of the immigrant communities.
- No to the Schumer-Graham immigration reform blueprint that calls for greater border militarization, tougher enforcement, and criminalization of immigrants.
- No to immigrant detention and deportation.
- No to employer sanctions and “no match” letters.
- No to free trade policies that displace workers.
- Yes to a path to legalization without condition for undocumented immigrants NOW.
- Yes to speedy family reunification.
- Yes to civil rights and humane immigration law.
- Yes to labor rights and living wages for all workers.
- Yes to education over incarceration and to LGBTQ equality in immigration policies and worker protections.
Over the next 90 days, there will be many opportunities to take action, show solidarity, and build our collective power to transform society and overturn Arizona’s SB 1070. Let us reach out across culture, race, and gender to build strong alliances and organize bold actions that will shake the country and lay the foundation to build the kind of world we all need and deserve.
Si se puede!
Hasta la victoria!
La Lucha Obrera, No Tiene Frontera!
Together, we can!
In solidarity,
SIGN THE STATEMENT TO EXPRESS YOUR SOLIDARITY HERE.
Organizations
Individuals
Eva Panjwani, UNC Student Action with Workers *
Janet Prieto, Greensboro
Out of State Statement Supporters We Wanted to Highlight:
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, postcolonial transnational feminist, Ithaca, NY
Leslie Feinberg, transgender warrior-activist and political journalist, Syracuse, NY
