A Week of Historic Moments for Causa, Our Allies and Our Movement

A Week of Historic Moments for Causa, Our Allies and Our Movement

The March for ONE Oregon Bus Tour for Immigration Reform

Last week, 50 of Oregon's most incredible organizers and community leaders got on the March for ONE Oregon Tour Bus in Bend for a 5 day trip around Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.   Over 1,370 miles were traveled and thousands of Immigration Reform Supporters were reached!

Sponsored by Causa Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, PCUN Farmworkers Union, and United Farm Workers, the goal of the historic bus tour was to unite ruralcommunities in the vision of immigration reform, restoration of driver’s licenses and fair treatment for all immigrants.

The March for ONE Oregon bus traveled through Central and Eastern Oregon making stops in Madras, Hood River, Hermiston, La Grande, and Ontario. During the tour, the Oregon Bus also connected with Buses from Idaho and Washington State, making stops in Buxley and Nampa Idaho and Walla Walla, Washington A range of activities took place at each stop along the route including rallies, press conferences, vigils, sharing stories, and meeting new allies.

Upon return to Bend, Bus Riders and local supporters held a candlelight vigil to support Trinity Episcopal Church—the Bend church that hosted the Bus Tour kick-off on Tuesday and was attacked by arson and vandalism late that evening. (Click here to read the statement issued by the March for ONE Oregon)

Bus Riders, supporters and members of the community joined together in near freezing temperatures in prayer and to speak out against the senseless violence and declared that they will not be stopped by any violence or hate in their quest for justice and humanity.

Several March for ONE Oregon riders continued on to Washington D.C. the next day to join with Bus Tours from other states and to participate in the Keeping Families Together Campaign March, Demonstration, and People’s Hearing on Immigration Reform Story Tour demanding immigration reform that includes legalization for 11 million undocumented immigrants and a path to citizenship.

For more photos and a daily log of the March for ONE Oregon Bus Tour, please visit our tumblr page atwww.oregonbustour.tumblr.com

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New American Voters Project Receives National Award

Last Wednesday (March 6th), Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller awarded the New American Voters Project with the National Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award at City Hall in recognition of their significant contributions to voter engagement.

The New American Voters Project (NAVP) is a collaboration among three nonpartisan community groups: Center for Intercultural Organizing, Causa Oregon and Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon. Volunteers from these organizations, many of them multilingual, register new citizens immediately after the naturalization ceremonies that occur year-round, four times per week, in Portland.

The project helps to register newly naturalized citizens to vote once they have taken the citizenship oath with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in Northwest Portland.

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City of Portland Passes Earned Sick Leave Ordinance

Yesterday, in an historic vote, the Mayor and the Portland City Council passed an Earned Sick Leave Ordinance unanimously (5-0). This makes Portland the 4th U.S. city to enact such a policy.

Over 22,000 Latin@s are among those working within the city of Portland will benefit from this critical new policy -- a great victory for our movement.

According to Family Forward Oregon, The policy will be effective January 1, 2014 and apply to all employers whose employees work 240 or more hours per year in the city.  Part-time and full-time workers will accrue paid sick and safe time at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked and be able to access it after 90 days on the job.  For employers with five or fewer employees the time will be job-protected but not paid, and for employers with six or more employees the time will be both paid and job-protected. Accrued time will not roll over from calendar year to calendar year, nor will it be cashed out upon separation. Time can be used to care for oneself, a family member, or to handle domestic violence issues. [Read the final policy here: http://bit.ly/PdxFinalPolicy]

Causa applauds  Commissioner Amanda Fritz in championing the ordinance and the City Council for their vote to passage.  We also want to recognize the Coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals which Causa was a part in working towards passing this important ordinance for working families in Portland. 

After yesterday’s vote, The Coalition was joined by City Commissioner Amanda Fritz for a press conference in front of City Hall to discuss and celebrate the victory.

Photos from the press conference can be viewed here:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151481038238334.1073741827.627833333&type=1&l=1276c12c3b