Polls Show Strong Public Support for SCOTUS Nominee

According to an article at Huffington Post, polls reveal strong public support for Judge Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

A Gallup poll released on Thursday showed that Americans feel good about the choice:

"Americans' first reactions to the news of President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court are decidedly more positive than negative, with 47% rating the nomination as "excellent" or "good," 20% rating it "only fair," and 13% rating it "poor."

A new Rasmussen poll released showed that people believe Judge Sotomayor will be confirmed to SCOTUS:

"Eighty-seven percent (87%) of voters nationwide believe Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed as the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. That figure includes 59% who believe her confirmation is Very Likely."

Read the full article at the Huffington Post by linking here.

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Labor Secretary Reverses Bush's Attack on Farmworker Labor Laws

This release comes from our partners at United Farm Workers and Farmworker Justice. For more on the organizations, please visit www.ufw.org and www.farmworkerjustice.org.

LABOR SECRETARY SOLIS REVERSES BUSH'S ATTACK ON FARMWORKER LABOR LAWS

Groups applaud the suspension of a policy that slashes wages, worker protections
(WASHINGTON DC) Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will suspend the midnight Bush Administration changes to weaken labor protections in the nation's agricultural guestworker program. The changes to the H-2A guestworker program took effect January 17, 2009, and have had a dramatic impact on wages and working conditions for agricultural workers under the program. In a notice to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, the Labor Department announces it will reinstate the former regulations in 30 days.

"This is a great relief for our nation's farmworkers." said Arturo S. Rodriguez, President of the United Farm Workers (UFW). "The Bush Administration's rules lowered wages and worker protections and made it easier to bypass legal U.S. workers in favor of guestworkers. We are overjoyed that the Secretary has overturned these cruel and illegal changes."

The Labor Department decided to issue the suspension after a lawsuit was filed by farmworker unions, including the United Farm Workers (UFW), the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC), Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) challenging the legality of the changes. The lawsuit is still pending but worker groups praised the DOL's decision. FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez called the announcement, "an important victory against the Bush Administration's efforts to exclude farm workers from voicing their concerns over the harsh policies of a bygone era."

The groups emphasized, however, that for all H-2A applications filed during the period when the Bush-Chao regulations have been in effect, farmworker employment will continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the Bush regulations, including the lower wage rates imposed by the Bush rules. "We remain concerned about the wages and working conditions of those workers hired under the Bush-Chao changes," said Bruce Goldstein, Executive Director of Farmworker Justice and one of the attorneys on the lawsuit.

"There also remains a pressing need to address the farm labor supply issue in a more comprehensive manner. One-sided changes to the H-2A program do not solve our nation's agricultural labor supply issues. We need Congress to pass the AgJOBS bill."

AgJOBS, the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act, recently reintroduced in both houses of Congress, would, according to Goldstein, "stabilize the farm labor force by allowing undocumented farmworkers who meet certain requirements to come forward and pay fines to earn a temporary legal status and gain documentation. It would also revise the H-2A program in balanced ways that have been agreed to by both industry and labor." The AgJOBS proposal has broad bipartisan support.

The UFW, the farm labor union founded by Cesar Chavez, is headquartered in California, is active in ten states, and led negotiations for farmworkers on immigration legislation.

FLOC, an AFL-CIO affiliate, is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, and has collective bargaining agreements covering thousands of H-2A guestworkers who work annually in North Carolina and is leading an organizing campaign in that state. Farmworker Justice is a national farmworker advocacy group based in Washington DC.

For more information see, www.farmworkerjustice.org, www.harvestingjustice.org, www.floc.com, and www.ufw.org.

For more information, contact:
Barb Howe, Farmworker Justice. bhowe@farmworkerjustice.org or 202.293.5420 ext. 307
Maria Machuca, United Farm Workers, media@ufwpress.com or 661-889-2758

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An Early Summer Meditation

By Francisco López
CAUSA Executive Director

It’s only the end of May and it has been by far an incredible five months in the campaign for a just comprehensive immigration reform that seeks to benefit thousands of immigrants in our state and millions more around the country. As I am sitting here writing my reflections of this first five months, I am feeling the unique and hopeful breeze of early summer in Oregon and my heart is full of pain and hope.

The pain is caused by unjust laws that separate families and declare immigrants obsolete. It is caused by hate crimes perpetrated against immigrants in our country and by the threatening phone calls received at CAUSA’s phone line by anti-immigrant groups. It is in the hate spearheaded against CAUSA through the airwaves by right-wing radio talk show hosts in Oregon and from the name calling and offensive comments towards immigrants. Lastly, the pain is in the rejection that comes from leaders whom we considered our “friends”.

Despite of all of this pain, there is also much HOPE. And the pain only makes me more determined. There is a very famous saying in Latin America, "la esperanza es lo ultimo que se muere", or "hope dies last".

HOPE is found in the hundreds of Latinas, Latinos and allies who marched for respect and dignity in St. Helens on February 18. It is found in the 450 Latinas and Latinos who came to the Immigrant Action Day at Chemeketa Community College on February 28 to plan and prepare for the just comprehensive immigration reform campaign this year. HOPE is also found in the 600 students who participated in the march and rally for comprehensive immigration reform at the offices of Congressman DeFazio in Eugene. And HOPE is found in the national meetings and conversations with US Congressional and White House officials this year regarding the urgency of a reform. In the more than 3,000 Latinas, Latinos and allies who marched at the Oregon State Capitol on May 1st despite the flu scare, the attacks by the right-wing in attempt to stop our march, HOPE is also found.

HOPE comes from the foundations and individuals that are providing financial support to our movement and are as committed as we are for a just comprehensive immigration reform this year. It is found in those e-mails calling for action and in the TV, radio, and newspaper interviews. It comes from the airwaves of PCUN Radio and is in all the actions that PCUN and CAUSA implemented during the first months of this year in Woodburn Salem, Eugene, Medford, Hermiston, Portland, and St. Helens. Last but not least, HOPE is found in the hundreds of individual relational meetings in our community. HOPE is in our midst.

My HOPE is that by the end of October our US Congress will be preparing to vote for a historic overhaul of our immigration system that will include the legalization and a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the United States. CAUSA’s commitment is to double the level of action that we had in the first five months of this year in the next five months. We will march and rally. Latina and Latino leaders will organize assemblies with Oregon’s Congressional delegation, teach leadership classes, and organize house meetings. Our actions in the next five months will be organized and deliberate. We will go to King Solomon and ask him for a wise decision, not for the half of the baby’s body, which is a dead body. We want a piece of bread which is life-giving.

In my native country of El Salvador, there is also a famous saying: "donde existe mucho dolor tambien existe mucha esperanza", or “where there is much pain, there is also much HOPE”.

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Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition Applauds First Hispanic Nominated to the High Court

For Immediate Release
May 26, 2009

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.984.6816
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition Applauds First Hispanic Nominated to the High Court
Salem, Ore- CAUSA (Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition), the largest Hispanic civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest, applauds President Obama for nominating Federal Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to become the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

At the White House today, President Obama praised Judge Sotomayor as "an inspiring woman" who would uphold a “commitment to impartial justice, a respect for precedent, and a determination to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand.”

The President went on to say that Sotomayor “would bring more experience on the bench and more varied experience on the bench than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed”. He added that Sotomayor’s careful reasoning has earned her “the respect of colleagues on the bench, the admiration of many lawyers who argue cases in her court, and the adoration of her clerks, who look to her as a mentor."

With today’s nomination, President Obama did exactly what he promised in last year's election by selecting a person who has demonstrated an abiding commitment to the core constitutional values of justice and equality under the law.

“Americans deserve a Supreme Court justice like Sonia Sotomayor”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. “She is an extremely qualified jurist who has demonstrated a commitment to our nation’s core constitutional values.”

President Obama has set a deadline for a confirmation vote on nominee Sonia Sotomayor by the start of the Senate's five-week recess which will begin on August 7th.

###
CAUSA (www.causaoregon.org) is Oregon’s statewide, grassroots immigrant rights coalition. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies.

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Eric Ward: Memorial Day Is About Honoring the Righteous

By Eric Ward
http://www.imagine2050.net/

Memorial Day, a chance for families and friends to camp, drag out the grill, and take that long anticipated fishing trip. For others the holiday is an opportunity to spend an additional night on the town clubbing and Monday buying out the Mall. For most of us Memorial Day holiday is simply a rare and deserved 3-day respite from work that occurs between the long winter and Labor Day in September.

At least that’s how I used to see Memorial Day up until two years ago. Back in 2007 I found myself in Portland, Oregon browsing for books at Powell’s Books. It’s one of those bookstores where, if you are a book lover, you don’t dare take your credit card. I was on the hunt for a book on the Abolitionist Movement in the United States. I had been making the argument in presentations that those working both to secure immigrant rights in the United States and defeat the anti-immigrant movement were the descendants of the early Abolition Movement.

Continue article at http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2009/05/25/memorial-day-is-about-honoring-the-righteous/

Eric Ward is the national field director with the Center for New Community based in Chicago. He is a regular contributor at Imagine 2050 blog, a project of the Center for New Community. Contributors to the blog include activists, immigrants, artists and students who are invested in a future nation that embraces multiculturalism and tolerance.

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Local Blog gets National Attention for Exposé on Immigration Restrictionist Group

Today, a local blog titled Opposing Bigotry has received national attention for an exposé they did on Oregonians for Immigration Reform. Imagine 2050, a project of the Center for New Community, ran a story about how the Oregon based immigration restrictionist group seized on the tragedy of a woman being raped to further their own political agenda.

According to the article, in response to media reports about the rape, OFIR went after the owner of a Milwaukie Wendy’s protesting the alleged "failure" of the restaurant to investigate the immigration status of their employees. The author of the article asked, “Do OFIR’s calls actually have anything to do with an interest in women’s rights, worker safety, or justice?”

Get the full story by linking here and here.

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Bill to Reunite Families Reintroduced in Congress

On Wednesday, US senators reintroduced bill that would bring together immigrant families who are torn apart for years due to a severe backlog.

As the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) had to say in their press release, the Reuniting Families Act would place a priority in helping legal immigrants reunite with their families and end decade-long waiting times for legal immigrant visas.

AILA stated that the legislation would reinforce the commitment to families and reduce current wait times in the family immigration system by:

- Helping an estimated 322,000 spouses and children under the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents who are waiting in line to reunite with their families by reclassifying them as immediate relatives

- Addressing the decades-long backlogs for certain countries by raising the per-country immigration limits from 7 percent to 10 percent of total admissions

- Protecting widows, widowers and orphans by allowing them to continue to wait in line for a visa after the death of the sponsoring relative.

- Recapturing an estimated 400,000 family-sponsored and employment-based visas that went unused between 1992 and 2007.

- Respecting the contribution of Filipino World War II veterans by reducing their children's waiting times for an immigrant visa.

- Promoting family unity by allowing more people who are already eligible for an immigrant visa to efficiently use our legal family immigration system.

- Providing equal treatment for stepchildren and biological children by allowing stepchildren under the age of 21 to immigrate upon their parents' marriage (current age limit is 18).

In a statement to the Associated Press, Senator Menendez, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that “the United States had "clear societal and economic reasons" to put a priority on reuniting families”.

Menendez finished by saying that, "Strong, unified immigrant families help maintain stable communities and tend to work hard, pay taxes and start businesses that create jobs.”

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Harvard University President Calls for Passage of DREAM Act

It was announced yesterday that Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust has come out in support of The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.

In a letter to Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry and Representative Michael E. Capuano, Faust wrote, "I believe it is in our best interest to educate all students to their full potential - it vastly improves their lives and grows our communities and economy. This bill will help move us closer to this goal."

President Faust joins a growing list of leaders and adds a powerful new voice to a bill that would help so many suffering under an unfair and broken system.

The DREAM Act, which was reintroduced in Congress in March, would address the tragedy of young people who grew up in the United States and have graduated from U.S. high schools but whose future is circumscribed by current immigration laws.

President Faust should be commended for coming out so strong for these youth. It shows her true dedication to education and fairness for America’s children.

For more on the story, visit the Boston Globe

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KPCN-LP Radio Movimiento Streaming Live on the Internet

After two and a half years of solid broadcasting, KPCN-LP, PCUN's low-power 24 hours a day spanish language FM radio station can now be streamed live on the internet.

Radio Movimiento, as the station is called, continues to amaze and inspire everyone including it's thousands of listeners, volunteer programmers, institutional supporters, and staff.

The station's mission is to provide a voice on the airwaves to combat oppression and discrimination, while helping to build self-confidence, self-esteem and developing valuable skills.

Many of the voices heard on KPCN-LP are ones almost never heard on spanish language stations or by a mass audience. They include youth, indigenous people (speaking in their own dialects), women, workers, plus progressive leaders from Latino communities around the corner and around Latin America. With it's weekly line-up, the station lives by it's slogan: “La Voz del Pueblo” (The Voice of the People).

The broadcast can be heard on 95.9 on the FM dial throughout Woodburn and in northern parts of Salem and Keizer. For those that don't live in the radius that Radio Movmiento covers, people can listen on-line by linking here or by visiting http://pcun.org/kpcn-radio/listen.

For more information or to find out how you can help sponsor Radio Movimiento, please contact Marlen Torres, KPCN's Station Director at 503.560.6517

You will need one of the two recommended players below to listen on your PC:
Winamp Download Winamp player
Windows Media Player Download Windows Media Player

Recommended players for your Macintosh:
Itunes Download Itunes

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Cross Burned in Small Oregon Town

Today, the Corvallis Gazette Times reports on an act of hate that occurred in Alsea, a small city in Benton County near the Oregon Coast.

A woman, who moved to Alsea a year ago with her adopted African American son, said that a 5ft tall wooden cross wrapped in what appeared to be a sheet was found burning in her yard.

According to the report, Sgt. Clay Stephens with the Benton County Sheriffs office said "the crime currently would be classified as reckless burning, because there weren’t any threats or other evidence of prejudice to support it being a hate crime".

Many are left scratching their heads that burning a cross, known to be a symbol of hate, in someones yard doesn't constitute a "threat" or "evidence of prejudice".

The Sheriff's office said they will continue to investigate.

To read the complete report from the Corvallis Gazzette Times, please link here.

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AGJOBS Act Reintroduced in U.S. Congress

Today California Senator Dianne Feinstein reintroduced the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act. Sixteen senators have signed on as co-sponsors.

According to a release from Senator Feinstein's office, "The Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act (AgJOBS) would reform the broken H-2A seasonal worker program, provide farmers with the stable, legal workforce they deserve, and offer a pathway to citizenship for hard-working, law-abiding immigrants already employed on American farms."

The passage of AGJOBS is necessary to alleviate the nation’s ongoing crisis shortage in agriculture labor. Across the nation, Farmers report not having enough labor to do the jobs necessary to keep food on American tables. There is simply not enough labor to plant, tend and harvest crops or milk cows. This blows apart the false notion that American citizens are lining up to do the jobs.

For the full release, visit this link

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CAUSA Joins Organizations and Faith Leaders to Commemorate One-Year Anniversary of Postville Immigration Raid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2009

Contact:
Francisco Lopez: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen: (503) 488-0263

CAUSA Joins Organizations and Faith Leaders to Commemorate One-Year Anniversary of Postville Immigration Raid

Groups Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform of Broken System that Led to Raids

Salem, Ore--On May 12th, 2008, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 389 people at Agriprocessors Inc., a kosher meat packing plant, in Postville, Iowa. At the time, this was the largest raid in the history of the United States, changing the lives of many, in the town and around the nation.

Today immigrant rights, social justice and faith groups in over 20 states across the nation are standing together to commemorate Postville and call for comprehensive immigration reform by donning red ribbons, hosting interfaith prayer vigils and sounding a call for justice.

“The raid we commemorate today may have happened in Postville, but our community has suffered from the same unjust and ineffective policies”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. “This is why we need immigration reform this year. It’s time we stand up and call for immigration policies that protect the rights of all workers and stand for the unity of our families.”

In 2007, Fresh Del Monte Produce fruit and vegetable processing plant in North Portland was raided by agents from the when the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 167 immigrant workers were torn from their livelihood and their families. Many were taken to a private prison near Tacoma and deported. A small number of women who were pregnant or had very young children were put under house arrest. Two years later the families are still struggling to rebuild their lives.

CAUSA is Oregon’s statewide, grassroots immigrant rights coalition. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies.

Resources:

National Day of Remembrance and Action on May 12 Anniversary of Raid in Postville, Iowa

Immigration raid leaves damaging mark on Postville, Iowa

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Honor Mothers by Passing the DREAM Act

Kids of OR Immigrants Await their ‘DREAM’

It’s Mother’s Day weekend, and moms always want the best for their children. But, when the mom is an undocumented worker in Oregon, it may take an act of Congress to accomplish that. The children of Oregon’s undocumented workers say it’s not their fault they were raised in the U.S., and now, they feel they belong here. Some in Congress agree, and have resurrected the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. It gives temporary citizenship to teens and young adults who came here as kids, have lived in the States for at least five years, got high school educations, and are "of good moral character." continue reading the full story!

Listen to the audio story by linking here.

TAKE ACTION: PASS THE DREAM ACT NOW!

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Mothers Day Vigil at Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma on Saturday

For Immediate Release
May 6, 2009

Contact:
Beth Poteet, 503.550.3510

Oregon New Sanctuary Movement organizing a Mothers Day vigil at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA
Portland, Ore.-- On May 9th, the Washington and Oregon New Sanctuary Movement coalitions will join together with immigrant rights, labor groups and immigrant families, in a Mothers Day vigil outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA, a privately-run holding facility for immigrants awaiting trial in an immigration court or deportation.

Human rights abuses at immigration detention centers around the nation have been the focus of several recent reports, including one conducted by Seattle University School of Law and several partner organizations. The Seattle University report found that multiple human and constitutional rights are routinely violated in the Tacoma-based center, including the right to counsel, to family unity, to medical treatment and violations of due process due to the forced signing of papers.

Faith leaders, immigrants and other community members will gather to decry the inhumane treatment of detainees in the Center, offer moral support to detained immigrants and their family members and call for immediate action by the Obama Administration to stop the raids, detentions and deportations that are tearing apart so many families.

"Mothers Day is an opportunity to honor the sacred bond between mothers and their children around the world. On May 9th we will pray for the thousands of mothers and children who yearn for each other's tender touch, but suffer instead an unjust separation wrought upon them by our nation's broken immigration system," said Rev. Lynne Smouse Lopez, pastor at Ainsworth United Church of Christ.

No child should be separated from their mother .

"We call upon our nation's leaders to pass just and humane comprehensive immigration reform that prioritizes family unity, brings undocumented immigrants out of the shadows with a path to citizenship and protects the rights of all worker," said Marco Mejia, Oregon New Sanctuary Movement co-founder and board member.

The vigil will include prayers, street theater, reflections and music by diverse religious and community leaders, and lift up the testimonies of immigrant mothers and children who are suffering.

The vigil is being planned as one of many coordinated Mothers Day Actions throughout the Western U.S., spearheaded by the Western region of the National New Sanctuary Movement.

For more information on the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement, visit www.oregonsanctuary.org or call (503) 550-3510 or email portlandsanctuary@gmail.com.

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Petition Launched Urging DOJ to Investigate Luis Ramirez Hate Crime

This petition is being sponsored by MALDEF, a non-profit dedicated to promoting equality and justice through litigation, advocacy, public policy, and community education in the areas of employment, immigrants’ rights, voting rights, education, and language rights.

Luis Ramirez Hate Crime Petition
It is time for the United States Department of Justice to intervene and conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation of the brutal murder of Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah,Pennsylvania. The Justice Department must send a strong message that violence targeting Latinos will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We need you, and so does Luis Ramirez’s family. Will you join me in making sure the DOJ does its job and brings justice to Shenandoah, Pennsylvania?

Click here now and urge the DOJ to investigate this hate crime today.

If you’re still not convinced let me give you the facts point by point:

On July 12, 2008, Luis Ramirez, a 25-year-old Mexican immigrant residing in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, was tragically beaten and stomped to death by a group of teens as he walked through the town. Witnesses overheard anti-Mexican and ethnic epithets shouted by his assailants during the violent attack. A retired Philadelphia police officer testified during the preliminary hearing that she heard one of the defendants yell, "Tell your [expletive] Mexican friends to get the [expletive] out of Shenandoah or you’ll be [expletive] laying next to him."

On Friday, May 1, 2009, a jury in Schuylkill County found two of the defendants accused of beating the 25-year-old father of two, not guilty of third degree murder and ethnic intimidation. Despite the mounting evidence of a hate-driven attack, the jury convicted them on charges of simple assault. The jury's conclusion is an outrage. Most shocking is the recent news article describing the Jury Foreman’s view that trial of the defendants was biased because of racism and prejudice he noted among his fellow jurors. Luis Ramirez was brutally murdered and even in death, Ramirez remains a victim of extreme racism, which denies his family the justice they deserve.

Now, MALDEF needs your help in calling upon the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice to conduct a thorough and comprehensive federal investigation surrounding the fatal beating of Luis Ramirez and to bring appropriate criminal charges against his assailants.

Click here now and urge the DOJ to investigate this hate crime today.

www.maldef.org/luis_ramirez_petition

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VIDEO: OREGON MAY DAY UNITY MARCH 2009!

On May 1st, individuals, clergy members, churches, labor unions, social justice & civil rights organizations, and business associations, united in calling for passage of Fair and Just Immigration Reform and an end to ICE Raids and Deportations this year.

Here is the video of what happened:


To read more about May Day 2009 in Salem, please link here.

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Pennsylvania: Latino hate crime trial ends with 'not guilty' verdict

This release comes from our allies at MALDEF about the racially motivated brutal beating death of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez.

JUSTICE NOT SERVED: PENNSYLVANIA HATE CRIME ASSAILANTS FOUND NOT GUILTY

Latino hate crime trial ends with 'not guilty' verdict

POTTSVILLE, PA – A jury in Schuylkill County found the two defendants, Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak, accused of beating 25-year-old Luis Ramirez to death, not guilty.

“Tonight there is no justice in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. The jury's conclusion is an outrage. Luis Ramirez was brutally murdered. Witnesses testified that it was racially motivated as a result of hate and intolerance. In the week when Congress passed the Hate Crimes Act, this verdict underscores the importance of the passage of this Act. It is time for the Department of Justice to step in and bring justice to the Ramirez family and send a strong message that violence targeting immigrants will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” stated Henry Solano, MALDEF interim president and general counsel.

In July 2008, Ramirez lost his life after he was knocked unconscious and kicked in the head by a group of Shenandoah teenagers who yelled racial epithets before and during the brutal beating. Witnesses overheard anti-Mexican and ethnic epithets shouted by his assailants. At trial one of the witnesses testified that one of Ramirez’s friends tried to stop the beating but one of the assailants said, “Tell your Mexican friends to get out of town, or you’ll be laying next to him.” Ramirez leaves behind his fiancée and their two young children.

Brandon Piekarsky was charged with third-degree murder and Derrick Donchak was charged with aggravated assault. Both were charged with ethnic intimidation.

“Luis’s death reflects a steady increase of hate crimes targeting Latinos. Since 2002, the FBI has documented a 40 percent increase in hate crimes committed against Latinos,” said Gladys Limón, MALDEF staff attorney. “This drastic rise of hate crimes against Latinos must be addressed by the new Administration and Congress.”

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives took a historic step forward and passed H.R. 1913, “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act” by a vote of 249 to 175. The bill strengthens existing federal hate crime laws by authorizing the Department of Justice to assist local authorities in investigating and prosecuting certain bias-motivated crimes. MALDEF urges the Senate to act quickly and pass the bill.

MALDEF will continue to work with the Ramirez family and the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure that the actions of the defendants and the death of Luis Ramirez is fully investigate as a hate crime.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.

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Photos: May Day Unity March and Rally in Salem

Over 3000 immigrant and labor rights supporters rallied and marched at the Oregon State Capitol on Friday in commemoration of International Workers' Day.

Link here to read more on the story.

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Over 3000 Immigrant and Labor Rights Supporters Gather at Oregon State Capitol

Diverse groups and people unite in call for Fair and Just Immigration Reform and an end to ICE Raids and Deportations

Salem, Ore -- Against the odds of H1N1 Flu fears and attempts from Oregon right-wing talk show hosts to shut down May Day celebrations, today over 3000 immigrant and labor rights supporters rallied and marched at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

Speakers and attendees at the rally came from a range of backgrounds and representations which included immigrant and refugee advocacy, organized labor, members of the Oregon State Legislature, the faith community and nursery and restaurant business associations. Regardless of the backgrounds of those present, the historical unity in support of fair and just immigration reform and an end to raids and deportations was strong.

With signs on the horizon that millions of undocumented immigrants will finally have a path to legal status and citizenship, speakers reinforced the call on Congress and the President to pass a Comprehensive Reform bill this year.

State Legislator and Speaker of the Oregon House, Dave Hunt told the crowd that, “We need to do more peacemaking, and make less war. And it is time to end the war in this country on immigrants.” Hunt finished by saying that Congress needs to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill.

As in Oregon, all across the nation immigrant rights advocates joined with the labor, religious and business community today to call for a common sense approach that gives the hard working men and women already here an earned path to citizenship, keeps families together and provides legal avenues for future workers to seek out opportunities here and join our struggle to strengthen our economy.

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May Day Rally and March in Salem Today

Salem, Ore-- Today at 11:00am, in commemoration of International Workers' Day, Immigrant and Labor Rights supporters will gather on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. The goal is to send a message to elected leaders calling on them to:

Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW

Stop ICE raids and End the Detentions

Restore Drivers' License access to All Oregon Residents

Protect and Support Workers' Rights & Just Wages

Today's day of action includes a rally with speakers from the faith, immigrant rights, organized labor and business community, and the Oregon State Legislature. A unity march around Downtown Salem will follow. A full schedule can be found below.

MAY DAY UNITY RALLY & MARCH IN SALEM
Date: Today Friday, May 1, 2009
Location:
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Oregon 97309
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Sponsors: CAUSA, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Service Employees International, Rural Organizing Project, Voz Hispana Causa Chavista, and others

Schedule
• 11:30 a.m. Lorena Manzo, CAUSA Organizer
• 11:35 a.m. Opening Prayer by Reverend McDougle from First Congregational Church - UCC in Salem and Fr. Luis Alva from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bend.
• 11:45 a.m. Oracion del Campesino by Norma Sanchez, Organizer with LUS and JwJ
• 11:50 a.m. State Representative Dave Hunt, Speaker of the House
• 12:00 a.m. Linda Burgin, President, SEIU Local 503 and OPEUI
• 12:15 p.m. Jeff Stone from the Oregon Association of Nurseries
• 12: 25 p.m. Bill Perry from the Oregon Restaurant Association
• 12:35 p.m. Ramon Ramirez, PCUN President
• 1:00p.m Unity March

For more information please call 503.269.5694 or visit www.causaoregon.org/events

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