A group of 20 activists and faith leaders were arrested in front of Boston's South Bay Detention Facility on Monday, according to protest organizers. The 20 arrestees were part of a larger group of activists who staged a sit-in to protest the recent detention of an undocumented immigrant rights activist from Vermont."What we're hoping to accomplish is to make it clear to the community that we're going to be protecting every organizer — even if they're undocumented," said Maria Fernanda, an undocumented volunteer organizer and with the group the immigrant workers' rights group Movimiento Cosecha, who came to America as a child.
Three immigrant rights activists were arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan, today (April 20) after they blocked—and stopped—traffic during a direct action. Activists began by marching to the city's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building with song and drum-banging. They held a banner that read, “We stop disrupting you when you stop disrupting our families,” and varying signs calling for an end to deportations.
The leaders of four national unions - part of a new Labor for Our Revolution network - are calling for broad labor support for "A Day Without Immigrants." The union leaders are urging their organizations' local leaders and members to participate in the expected May 1 actions by millions of immigrants who will be striking and marching in cities and towns all across the country. The four unions’ combined memberships represent almost one million workers.
Labor for Our Revolution issued a joint statement of support - signed by Larry Hanley, President, Amalgamated Transit Union; Chris Shelton, President,Communications Workers of America; RoseAnn DeMoro, Executive Director, National Nurses United; and Peter Knowlton, General President, United Electrical Workers - and sent the statement to its list of union leaders and activists requesting additional grassroots support, resulting in more than 1,000 union members also "signing on" to the call supporting A Day Without Immigrants.
In Newark, marchers will assemble at 2pm in Lincoln Park for a rally, followed by a march on the federal building and a 5:30pm Justice Walk to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, where a conversation about social justice will be held with New Jersey’s gubernatorial candidates.
On Thursday, April 13th, students, faculty, staff, and community members from Boston area colleges and universities will gather for a Day of Culture and Action at Brewer Fountain in Boston Common. After years of broken promises from politicians and targeted raids against immigrant communities, President Trump’s xenophobic policies and harsh rhetoric threaten our country’s values while isolating communities that are the fabric of our nation. In response, immigrants and allies will share their narratives through music, dance and poetry, celebrating the diverse cultures that are integral to our communities.
