[Antiracism] IR:SUPPORT ELVIRA ARELLANO

[Nick Camerota]

From: International Action Center <actioncenter at action-mail.org>
CC: "Activist alerts and news." <action.news at organizerweb.com>
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A CALL TO SUPPORT THE CASE OF ELVIRA ARELLANO
Stand in solidarity with all immigrants, documented and undocumented

The International Action Center urges you to support the case of Elvira 
Arellano. Elvira is an undocumented worker who is taking a heroic stand 
against deportations and fighting for her rights. She is a native of 
Michoacán, Mexico who came to the U.S. like many of the other 12 million 
undocumented in this country, in search of work and a better life.

In 2002, Elvira was detained by Homeland Security agents in an Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweep at O'Hare Airport in Chicago under the 
guise of allegedly looking for "terrorists".  She was detained by the 
Department of Homeland Security for using a false social security number on 
her job at O'Hare.

On August 18, 2006 Elvira Arellano and her seven year old son, Saul who is a 
US citizen, took sanctuary in Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago 
instead of reporting for deportation, primarily because Saul has health 
problems. She has pledged to live indefinitely in the church until granted a 
reprieve.

Elvira is a well known activist, representing many families in Congressional 
hearings and speaking on behalf of immigrant rights.  She worked to organize 
in July 2005 a march of 50,000 for immigrant rights in Chicago, and went on 
a hunger strike to support workers who were picked up by ICE prior to the 
historic May 1st boycott in 2006.  Arellano was a founder of both La Familia 
Latina Unida and the Coalition of African Arab Asian European and Latino 
Immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII).

The case of Elvira Arellano is a just cause

Elvira Arellano has become the symbol of resistance to the heartless and 
callous deportations that are sweeping the country. Despite a legislative 
standstill in Congress, not only are deportations escalating, local 
officials around the nation are implementing de facto immigration policy 
that amount to a witch-hunt against immigrants. A case in point is the 
anti-immigrant ordinance that passed in July in Hazelton, PA.

Due to her heroic stand, a group of Black ministers spoke last week at 
Adalberto Methodist of the comparisons of Arellano to Rosa Parks. Reverend 
Albert Tyson said he hopes "their support would increase the bonds between 
Latinos and African-Americans." At the meeting Arellano said, "I don't only 
speak for me and my son, but for millions of families like mine." Supporters 
from the predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood chanted, "Luchando mano y 
mano, Boriqua y Mexicano!" ("Fighting hand in hand, Puerto Rican and 
Mexican!")

Elvira Arellano is the perfect example that the anti-immigrant hysteria 
sweeping the country is an inhumane situation that has become intolerable. 
The human rights of immigrants are being cruelly violated under the guise of 
fighting terrorism or stopping "illegal" immigration. In fact, no human 
being is illegal and whether in the U.S. documented or undocumented, 
immigrants have a right to live in peace, without fear of evictions from 
their homes or the country.
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How you can help Elvira:

1. Write letters to Illinois Senators Richard Durbin and Barack Obama as 
well as your own legislator urging them to prevent her deportation.

For Senator Durbin visit: http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm#contact
For Senator Obama: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/index.php

2. Send Letters to the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune asking them 
to stop demonizing Elvira as well as all immigrants. Their emails are 
letters at suntimes.com <mailto:letters at suntimes.com> and 
ctc-tribletter at tribune.com <mailto:ctc-tribletter at tribune.com>.

3. Send letters of support directly to Elvira at the organization she works 
with and who has been spearheading her support, Sin Fronteras at Centro Sin 
Fronteras 2300 S. Blue Island Ave., Chicago IL 60608 or visit the website: 
www.legalizationyes.com <http://www.legalizationyes.com>. For Spanish 
speakers visit: www.legalizacionsi.com <http://www.legalizacionsi.com>
______________________________________________
Sent by the Western Mass. Organizing Committee of the INTERNATIONAL ACTION 
CENTER/Troops Out Now Coalition
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http://www.IACenter.org
http://www.PeopleJudgeBush.org
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