Plea for New Bedford Immigrant Families
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer Tuesday March 7th using militaristic tactics, including helicopters. At least 340 workers were detained from the Michael Bianco Inc. factory. The factory employs mostly women and mostly immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador (but also immigrants from Cape Verde, Brazil and Portugal). The raid has torn apart hundreds of families and left dozens upon dozens of babies and young children without a home. Over 100 children were directly affected. Some of the detainees have been flown to Texas and many families still do not know where their loved ones are. Somewhat
coincidentally, the raid led to the arrest of a handful of managers - none of whom were charged for any of their violations of labor law related to factory working conditions. Factory workers detained by the Department of Homeland Security's ICE where making leather products for the US military operations in Iraq. The US contract with the employer was not canceled. Federal officials are calling Tuesday's attack the largest INS raid in recent history.
See: http://www.miracoalition.org
Photos of the Raid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxnHGeENkmE
1) SIGN-ON LETTER FOR NEW BEDFORD (TIME SENSATIVE)
The sign on letter for New Bedford has recently been expanded to organizations nation wide.
The letter is located:
http://www.miracoalition.org/uploads/tH/cc/tHcczRH9_RsGgUESqkU0jg/
MBI-raid-sign-on-letter.pdf
If this link does not work please go to the MIRA website:
www.miracoalition.org
To sign onto the letter, please email Marcony Almedia at:
malmeida@miracoalition.org
with the name and contact information for your organization (your
title). Please bcc: camiloviveiros@yahoo.com
2) SUPPORT NEW BEDFORD - A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS RALLY SATURDAY MARCH 17th 2PM
Please spread the word and mobilize people come to out and support New Bedford workers and families.
We will be gathering at the Federal building in downtown New Bedford at 2pm.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TURN OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS TO SUPPORT NEW BEDFORD!
If you can not make it to New Bedford please plan local solidarity events connected to immigrant rights
issues in your community before May Day.
3) CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON:
Ask them to speak directly with Secretary Chertoff to request that he "Release the Moms."
Demand a moratorium on deportations "until reform has passed" (This a strategic demand put out by
MIRA to get more time. Of course we need to work toward ending all deportations!)
Please look up and contact your local Congressmen:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?
OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC
4) MONETARY DONATIONS:
MIRA is collecting money in a separate account to be distributed to community organizations responding in the affected areas. All donations through this account will be distributed to the affected
New Bedford families.
To Donate On-Line: [ https://www.community room.net/donate.asp?
id=331] Choose "MIRA" as the recipient, then specify that the
funds are for "New Bedford Immigrant Families/Ninos Fund." Or send
a check to the MIRA Coalition, 105 Chauncy St , Boston , MA 02111
Please specify in the memo line that the funds are for "New Bedford
Immigrant Families/Ninos Fund." Donations are tax-deductible and
all donations marked "New Bedford Immigrant Families / Ninos Fund"
will be distributed to the affected families through the
appropriate local community and service organizations.
Federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer Tuesday March 7th using militaristic tactics, including helicopters. At least 340 workers were detained from the Michael Bianco Inc. factory. The factory employs mostly women and mostly immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador (but also immigrants from Cape Verde, Brazil and Portugal). The raid has torn apart hundreds of families and left dozens upon dozens of babies and young children without a home. Over 100 children were directly affected. Some of the detainees have been flown to Texas and many families still do not know where their loved ones are. Somewhat
coincidentally, the raid led to the arrest of a handful of managers - none of whom were charged for any of their violations of labor law related to factory working conditions. Factory workers detained by the Department of Homeland Security's ICE where making leather products for the US military operations in Iraq. The US contract with the employer was not canceled. Federal officials are calling Tuesday's attack the largest INS raid in recent history.
See: http://www.miracoalition.org
Photos of the Raid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxnHGeENkmE
1) SIGN-ON LETTER FOR NEW BEDFORD (TIME SENSATIVE)
The sign on letter for New Bedford has recently been expanded to organizations nation wide.
The letter is located:
http://www.miracoalition.org/uploads/tH/cc/tHcczRH9_RsGgUESqkU0jg/
MBI-raid-sign-on-letter.pdf
If this link does not work please go to the MIRA website:
www.miracoalition.org
To sign onto the letter, please email Marcony Almedia at:
malmeida@miracoalition.org
with the name and contact information for your organization (your
title). Please bcc: camiloviveiros@yahoo.com
2) SUPPORT NEW BEDFORD - A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS RALLY SATURDAY MARCH 17th 2PM
Please spread the word and mobilize people come to out and support New Bedford workers and families.
We will be gathering at the Federal building in downtown New Bedford at 2pm.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TURN OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS TO SUPPORT NEW BEDFORD!
If you can not make it to New Bedford please plan local solidarity events connected to immigrant rights
issues in your community before May Day.
3) CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON:
Ask them to speak directly with Secretary Chertoff to request that he "Release the Moms."
Demand a moratorium on deportations "until reform has passed" (This a strategic demand put out by
MIRA to get more time. Of course we need to work toward ending all deportations!)
Please look up and contact your local Congressmen:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?
OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC
4) MONETARY DONATIONS:
MIRA is collecting money in a separate account to be distributed to community organizations responding in the affected areas. All donations through this account will be distributed to the affected
New Bedford families.
To Donate On-Line: [ https://www.community room.net/donate.asp?
id=331] Choose "MIRA" as the recipient, then specify that the
funds are for "New Bedford Immigrant Families/Ninos Fund." Or send
a check to the MIRA Coalition, 105 Chauncy St , Boston , MA 02111
Please specify in the memo line that the funds are for "New Bedford
Immigrant Families/Ninos Fund." Donations are tax-deductible and
all donations marked "New Bedford Immigrant Families / Ninos Fund"
will be distributed to the affected families through the
appropriate local community and service organizations.
