Chicago May Day 2011

By The Red Phoenix on April 23, 2011 • ( 0 )

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On May Day, as millions of people around the world celebrate workers’ rights, a coalition of grassroots immigrant rights activists, anti-war organizations, rank and file workers and community members are calling on Chicago to march! We march in solidarity with all working people – documented and undocumented, waged and unwaged, those who labor and those who work in the home, students, the unemployed, in the US and around the world. Together we march for justice, fair wages, decent working conditions, basic dignity, healthy communities, and full legal status for all working people. Solidarity forever must be for everyone!

Click Here For Black & White and Color Flyers in English and Spanish

GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE MAY DAY MARCH AND RALLY:

May Day is celebrated around the world as the international day of solidarity among working people. This global celebration recognizes the historic importance of worker struggles in Chicago, as a city in which immigrant workers in the 1800s led the fight for the 8-hour work-day.

In 2006, Chicago’s immigrant communities marched in protest and defeated the harsh anti-immigrant Sensenbrenner Bill; it was this struggle for immigrant rights that breathed new life into Mayday and re-ignited the fight for the rights of all working people. This legacy continues in 2011 as a grassroots coalition calls for a May Day march in Chicago from Union Park to Pilsen, a Latino neighborhood of great international significance in the history of the struggles for worker rights.

Today the political and economic problems facing the nation are even more dramatic than in 2006. The attack on workers in Wisconsin, and the enormous nation-wide response of support, comes against the backdrop of copy-cat anti-worker bills around the Midwest. At the same time, deportations continue at historically high rates, and anti-immigrant legislation is being introduced around the country including a proposed bill here in Illinois. As two sides of the same coin, these dual attacks highlight the importance of solidarity for workers regardless of their legal status.

May Day is the largest show of worker solidarity in the world, in which teachers, workers, immigrants and students in Chicago will join their counterparts around the world to march for a fair and equal Chicago.

In the words of some of the March organizers:

“We march because the classic union anthem of “Solidarity Forever” refers to every worker – documented and undocumented, waged and unwaged, in the US and around the world” stated Robin Hewlett, an artist and organizer for May Day.

“We march because our communities are under attack” said Jose Herrera, a youth organizer of the march, “Politicians make false promises in order to mobilize the immigrant vote, while at the same time they enforce a system that oppresses and criminalizes immigrants. We march as a way to build political power and consciousness in our communities.”

“We march because we are in a moment of emerging global consciousness among working people” stated Carmela Garcia. “The failure of the neo-liberal system is clear, and there is an emerging globalised movement to build a better and more just world”.

DEMANDS OF THE 2011 CHICAGO MAY DAY MARCH AND RALLY:

1. Stop all deportations NOW — we demand an immediate Moratorium on Deportations !
2. Legalization and full status without conditions for undocumented immigrants NOW !
3. An end to anti-immigrant legislation and the criminalization of immigrants
4. Labor rights, employment, and a living wage for all workers
5. Funding for health care, jobs and education, not for war and deportation!

STATEMENT OF THE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE 2011 CHICAGO MAY DAY MARCH AND RALLY IN SUPPORT OF WORKERS AT THE FISK AND CRAWFORD PLANT:

1. Chicago offers a dramatic example of how environmental devastation disproportionately affects immigrant communities and people of color. Our communities experience a warzone with every breath, a kind of war that builds battlefields in our neighborhoods and inside the bodies of children. The city has the authority, and the obligation, to stop this attack on its residents.
2. The air we breathe knows no borders. The toxic pollutants produced by the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired plants (in Pilsen and Little Village respectively) affect people across the city and the region. We expect the city of Chicago to live up to its green image as more than an empty slogan.
3. We believe that support for the rights and health of workers like those that work at the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired plants is entirely compatible with the health and well-being of the primarily immigrant communities that suffer the deadly affects of the two unregulated coal plants.
4. Working people are being forced to pay for economic and environmental crisis created by corporations that destabilize economies, devastate life sustaining ecosystems, displace workers and pollute communities around the globe. Average working people can not afford to bear these disproportionate costs while the top 1% profit.

FULL TEXT (ENG/SPAN) OF FLYER:

MARCH – Chicago Mayday 2011
Dignity, Justice and Legalization for all!
Workers’ Struggle Beyond Borders
Solidarity Forever and For Everyone
Sunday, May 1st 2011
2:00PM Reunion at Union Park, (Corners of Lake St and Ashland)
3:00PM March step off to Plaza Tenochtitlan in Pilsen
4:00PM March Ends and Rally Starts at Plaza Tenochtitlan, (Corners of 18th St/Blue Island/S. Loomis)

On May 1st millions of people around the world march to celebrate international solidarity among working people. We march because the classic union anthem of “Solidarity Forever” must be expanded to every worker – documented and undocumented, waged and unwaged, those who labor and those who work in the home, students, the unemployed, in the US and around the world. We march because the scapegoating and criminalization of immigrants is a crucial part of the overall attack on working people. We march because anti-immigrant legislation has created the conditions of modern-day slavery for migrant workers. We march because as long as one worker is deport-able, all workers are exploitable.
US corporate interests concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few, while destabilizing economies and displacing working people at home and around the globe. Together we must oppose the forces making us pay for a crisis we did not create. Together we must stand against policies that limit workers’ collective political representation. Together we must fight for justice, fair wages, decent working conditions, basic dignity and full legal status for all working people. Solidarity forever must be for everyone!

Our demands:
1. Stop all deportations NOW — we demand an immediate Moratorium on Deportations!
2. Legalization and full status without conditions for undocumented immigrants NOW!
3. An end to anti-immigrant legislation and the criminalization of immigrants!
4. Labor rights, employment, and a living wage for all workers!
5. Funding for health care, jobs and education, not for war and deportation!
Who is involved in organizing?

May Day 2011 Chicago March: Workers’ Struggle Beyond Borders is organized by an ad-hoc coalition of small groups, community members and organizers. The coalition was instigated through the efforts of a group of undocumented youth who formed the Moratorium on Deportation Campaign, and has grown through the March 10th 2011 mobilization at Union Park (Liberation Square) and the People’s Trial action at the Boeing Headquarters. We have come together to answer the call of undocumented youth to build Mayday in a democratic and grass roots manner. Join us!

How you can support Chicago May Day 2011:

We Invite You to Join Us and ask for your Endorsement for the Chicago May Day March, send your organization’s name and contact info to: moratoriumondeportaions@gmail.com

As an Endorsing Organization we count on you in the following ways:
1. We will add your name to the list of organizations supporting the action and its political message.
2. We count on you to mobilize through your organization’s networks: website, listservs, media contacts, allies.
3. We count on you to attend the march – join us for this celebration of solidarity in struggle!
4. We ask for your donation, however small. Checks can be made payable to “Moratorium on Deportations”, we are happy to arrange a personal pick up of your contribution.
5. We welcome you to attend our “Taquiza” fundraising and banner-making event on Sunday, April 24 starting at 3pm at 1448 N. Kedzie Chicago IL 60651.
6. Organize your own banner-making event to bring your own message of solidarity and struggle!
7. We welcome you to attend weekly open organizing meetings Tuesdays at 7PM at Biblioteca Popular 1921 S. Blue Island, Pilsen.

Endorsing Organizations (as of April 19th):

Moratorium on Deportations
3d Graphics Inc
8th Day Center for Justice
AFSCME Local 2081
Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice
American Party of Labor
ANSWER Chicago
Biblioteca Popular
Centro Americano para la Cultura y las Artes
Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign
Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR)
Chicago Jobs with Justice
Committee Against the Militarization of our Youth (CAMi)
Gay Liberation Network
Iglesia Metodista Amor de Dios
Immigrant Solidarity Dupage
International Socialist Organization
Justice Mission,
La Villita, Chicago Facebook Community
Labor Committee on Immigrant Worker Rights
M19 Anti War Coalition
Movimiento Migrante Mesoamericano
Radios Populares
Red Migrante
Socialist Worker Party
Teachers for Social Justice, Chicago
Teamsters Local 743
The Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
The Coalition of Utah Progressives (CUP)

For more information you may contact us through the following:
http://www.moratoriumondeportations.org or Facebook Page E-mail: moratoriumondeportations@gmail.com
De: Moratorium On Deportaions Contact: moratoriumondeportations@gmail.com

Aguarde la Fecha: Primero de Mayo 2011

MARCHA EL PRIMERO DE MAYO
-La Lucha Obrera No Tiene Fronteras-
-Marchando por la Dignidad, Justicia y Legalización Para Todos-
-Solidaridad para Siempre y para Todos-

Domingo, Mayo 1 2011
2:00PM: Reunión en el Parque Union, (Esquinas de las calles w. Lake y n. Ashland)
3:00PM: La Marcha Comienza en el Parque Union hacia la Plaza Tenochtitlan en Pilsen
4:00PM: La Marcha termina con una manifestación en la Plaza Tenochtitlán en Pilsen
(Esquinas de las calles 18/S. Blue Island/S. Loomis)

El día primero de mayo millones de personas alrededor del mundo marchan para celebrar la solidaridad internacional entre los trabajadores. Nosotros marchamos porque el himno clásico de los sindicatos “Solidaridad para siempre” tiene que ampliarse a todos los trabajadores – con documentos o sin documentos, con o sin salarios, a los que trabajan afuera y los que trabajan en el hogar, los estudiantes, los desempleados, en los EE.UU. y en todo el mundo . Marchamos porque el chivo expiatorio y la criminalización de los inmigrantes es una parte crucial del ataque general contra los trabajadores. Marchamos porque las legislaciones anti-inmigrante han creado las condiciones de la esclavitud de hoy en día para los trabajadores migrantes. Marchamos porque mientras que un trabajador sea deportado, todos los trabajadores son explotables.

Los intereses corporativos de EE.UU. concentran la riqueza y el poder en manos de unos pocos al mismo tiempo que desestabilizan la economía y desplazan a la gente trabajadora del país y del mundo entero. Juntos debemos oponernos a las fuerzas que nos hacen pagar por una crisis que no hemos creado. Juntos debemos estar en contra de las pólizas que limitan la representación política colectiva de los trabajadores. Juntos debemos luchar por la justicia, un salario justo, condiciones dignas de trabajo, la dignidad básica y el estatus legal y completo para todos los trabajadores.
¡La solidaridad para siempre debe ser para todos!

Nuestras demandas:
1. ¡Detener las deportaciones AHORA – exigimos una inmediata moratoria a las deportaciones!
2. ¡La legalización y el estatus completo sin condiciones para los inmigrantes indocumentados AHORA!
3. ¡El fin de legislaciones anti-inmigrantes y de la criminalización de los inmigrantes!
4. ¡Los derechos laborales, el empleo y un salario digno y justo para todos los trabajadores!
5. ¡Los fondos para la atención de la salud, el empleo y la educación, y no para la guerra y la deportación!

¿Quiénes están involucrados en la organización del evento?

Marcha primero de Mayo 2011: La Lucha Obrera no tiene fronteras, es organizado por una coalición de pequeños grupos, miembros de la comunidad y organizadores de justicia social. La coalición fue incitada por los esfuerzos de un grupo de jóvenes indocumentados que forman la campana de “Una Moratoria a las Deportaciones”, y la cual ha crecido a través de la movilización reciente del 10 de marzo del 2011 en el Parque Unió (Plaza de la Liberación) y la acción sostenida enfrente de las oficinas de Boeing en el mismo día. Nos hemos reuniendo para contestar la llamada de jóvenes indocumentados para construir la marcha del primero de mayo a través de un proceso político que es democrático y popular. Únete a nosotros!

¿Cómo puede apoyar la marcha del primero de mayo 2011?:

Le invitamos a unirse a nosotros y le pedimos su apoyo para la marcha del primero de mayo, envía el nombre e información de contacto de tu organización a: moratoriumondeportations@gmail.com

Como una organización de apoyo, contamos con ustedes en las siguientes maneras:

1. Añadiremos su nombre de organización a la lista de organizaciones cuales apoyan la acción y el mensaje político.
2. Contamos con ustedes para movilizar a gente a través de las redes de su organización: página de web, listas de correo, contactos de prensa, y sus contactos.
3. Contamos con ustedes para asistir a la marcha. ¡Únase a nosotros para esta celebración de solidaridad en la lucha!
4. Le pedimos su donación, por pequeña que sea. Los cheques deben hacerse a nombre de “Moratorium On Deportations”, estamos dispuestos a recoger su contribución en persona.
5. Le invitamos a asistir a nuestra recaudación de fondos y creación de mantas “Taquiza/Banner Making” el domingo, 24 de abril a partir de las 3:00 de la tarde en el 1448 N. Kedzie Chicago IL 60651.
6. Organice su propio evento de creación de mantas/rótulos para llevar su propio mensaje de ¡solidaridad y lucha!
7. Le invitamos a asistir a las reuniones abiertas semanales, los martes a las 7:00pm en Biblioteca Popular 1921 S. Blue Island, Pilsen.

Organizaciones quienes respaldan la marcha (A partir de abril 19):

Moratorium on Deportations, 3d Graphics Inc, 8th Day Center for Justice, AFSCME Local 2081, Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice, American Party of Labor, ANSWER Chicago, Biblioteca Popular, Centro Americano para la Cultura y las Artes, Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR), Chicago Jobs with Justice, Committee Against the Militarization of our Youth (CAMi), Gay Liberation Network, Iglesia Metodista Amor de Dios, Immigrant Solidarity Dupage, International Socialist Organization, Justice Mission, La Villita-Chicago Facebook Community, Labor Committee on Immigrant Worker Rights, M19 Anti War Coalition, Movimiento Migrante Mesoamericano, Radios Populares, Red Migrante, Socialist Worker Party, Teachers for Social Justice-Chicago, Teamsters Local 743, The Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, The Coalition of Utah Progressives (CUP)

Para más información: http://www.moratoriumondeportations.org or Facebook Page
E-mail: moratoriumondeportations@gmail.com