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38 weeks 6 days ago
To the Streets for May Day - International Workers Day!
Submitted by LS on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 1:20am.
May 1st is right around the corner. As most readers of this blog probably already know, May 1st is celebrated as International Workers Day around the world. For those that want more information, background and history about May Day, check out the Marxist Internet Archive resource page about it.
May 1st had been largely relegated to a day celebrated by the revolutionary left in the U.S....until two years ago. On May 1st, 2006, the immigrant rights movement shook the whole country, as hundreds of thousands of mostly immigrant workers skipped work and took the streets en masse in cities all over the country, and even a million people marched in Los Angeles. Pouring out numbers of people on the streets that the anti-war movement can't even come close to touching, it became clear that a new social force had made its mark, and May Day was back as a mass holiday in the U.S.
The marches last year on May Day were not as big as 2006, but that's not really even a fair comparison. The impressive point is that a year later, hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers and their supporters took to the streets again on May Day, on a work day.
Here we are in 2008. After the mass movement succeeded in stopping the heinous Sensenbrenner bill from passing, the ruling class has responded by pushing through pieces of Sensenbrenner, moving forward with the construction of the odious border wall, and most of all massively stepping up raids and deportations.
Those raids and deportations have stoked fear and been a large reason for the lower turnout at the immigrant rights marches since 2006. Also the alliances that came together in 2006 have broken down to varying degrees since then, at times coming together and at times falling apart dramatically. And the grassroots movement has gone through its inevitable ebbs and flows.
But here we are. A couple days from May Day 2008. We can continue to make a mark on history by pushing forward again on May 1st, 2008. I hope everyone reading here finds a way to participate in a march or action of some sort on May Day.
Here are some links for May Day 2008:
FRSO statement: May Day 2008: Long Live the Peoples’ Struggle!
Coverage from Fight Back Newspaper:
Chicago: Huge Immigrant Rights march planned for May 1
Los Angeles: Mobilizing for May 1 Immigrant Rights Protest
Minnesota: March for Immigrant Rights May 1st
National Immigrant Solidarity Network's May Day 2008 site with listings of activities in various cities
Voces de la Frontera from Milwaukee, which last year had a demonstration of 80,000 people on May Day
March 10th Movement - Chicago did the first mega-march on March 10, 2006. Hosted the national conference on the heels of the 2006 upsurge, and organized huge numbers again in 2007
Latinos Unidos - Michigan organizing a mass march on May 1st in Detroit
MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition (MIRAc) formed out of the 2006 upsurge and has continued to organize and build since then
This is just a quick start. Please add more links in the comments here if you know of groups organizing marches in other cities.
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More May 1 marches
TUCSON, AZ: RECLAMANDO NUESTROS DERECHOS
Thursday May 1st, 2008
March @ 9:00 am
Rally @ 11:30am.
Gather 8:00am at Southgate Shopping Center (I-10 and 6th Avenue)
March to Armory Park (220 S. 5th Avenue)
www.tucsonmay1st.org
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MAY 1 IN COLORADO
Eagle County, CO for Peace and Justice will march for immigrant rights and aginst the war on May 1. Check out the blog for more info. http://ecopeacejustice.wordpress.com
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MAY 1 IN SAN FRANCISCO
Under the broad theme of Workers Uniting Without Borders –Amnesty for All, protesters will gather in San Francisco on Thursday, May 1st for a 2:00pm rally in Dolores Park, a 3:30pm march to Civic Center, and a 5:00pm rally and musical performance. Contact: (415) 933-2319 or sfamnistia@gmail.com.
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MIAMI MAY DAY MARCH
May 1st, 6pm at the Dessalines Center, 82nd St. and N.E. 2nd Ave.
The Miami May Day Coalition calls upon all communities, grass roots organizations, and all progressive individuals to unite for a march and rally to defend worker and immigrant rights and to demand an end to the occupation of Iraq.
Contact: Mae Singerman, Coordinator
Community Benefits Coalition
786-216-5640
www.DevelopmentThatWorks.org
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RALLY IN ROMOLAND, CA
Pro-immigrant rally from 5:00 to 8:30, in Romoland at the corner of 2nd St and 74. We join together in solidarity to fight for the rights of all immigrants.
Contact Harvest Valley Contra las Redadas www.contraredadas.com
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NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION EVENT - NEW MEXICO
At Tiguex Park at Mountain Blvd and Calle 16. From 3 to 5 PM. Come celebrate the National Day of Action. There will be cumbia bands, mariachis, salsa music. Bring food if you want to eat, but don't buy anything that day. It's also a "no buy" boycott day. There is a march to coincide with the festival events in and around Tiguex park.
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JOIN THE MARCH MAY 1 IN SAN JOSE!
Meet at King and Story at 4pm
March to SJ City Hall at Santa Clara and 4th
Demands for this years march:
-Comprehensive immigration reform
-Stop the raids in our communities
-Respect the civil, labor and human rights of immigrants and our people
More info: www. myspace. com/accionprimerodemayo
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3RD ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN MARCH FOR IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS IN PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Friends of Immigrants invites all descendants of immigrants and advocates and supporters of immigrants' rights and peace and social justice to join the event on May 1 to denounce the injustices and terror that our immigrant communities are going through. Contact PFOIinfo@gmail.com
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IMMIGRANT RIGHTS RALLY IN AMHERST, MASS
The Western Mass Coalition for immigrant rights invites the public to the May 1 rally for immigrant rights at the Amherst North common from noon to 2 p.m. The event will feature speakers, poetry and musical performances. For more info, visit wmclwr.blogspot.com
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MAY 1 EVENTS IN WASHINGTON, DC
Protesters will picket the national offices of the Republican and Democratic National Committees, calling on members of both parties to recognize the basic human rights of all immigrants to this country. The Latino vote will be crucial in upcoming elections, and we demand candidates respond and act for justice for immigrants.
Party office pickets will begin at 2 pm, followed by a rally at the Capital Reflecting Pool at 4 pm.
www.mexicanossinfronteras.org
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NH RALLY
Manchester City Hall Plaza, May 1st At 4.O0pm. Rally for:
immigration reform
a path to citizenship
stop deportations
family reunification
equal access to health and education
equal labor rights
For Information: Eva Castillo 603-661-2873
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RALLY IN GEORGIA FOR LATINO AND WORKERS' RIGHTS
Thursday, May 1, 4:00 pm
Immigrant and Workers Rights Capitol Rally - Honor the Honest Labor of All Workers. Sponsored by the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, the rally will take place on the west steps of the Capitol (Washington Street, across from Central Presbyterian Church). Attend and support the collective effort in defense of the human rights of all working communities. Hear about unjust deportations, families that are unfairly separated and raids based on inaccurate information. For details contact infoglahr@gmail.com or call 770.457.5232
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NORTH CAROLINA MAY 1 EVENTS
Peaceful Gathering in Raleigh at the Legislative House