Diverse Communities, Elected Officials to Gather at Oregon State Capitol on May 1st

A Celebration of Working Families

Salem, Ore. -- This year’s May Day march and rally will be filled with hundreds of lanterns. These lanterns will signify the hope for a more just and equitable state for all Oregonians.

On Tuesday, May 1st, immigrants, labor union members, students, members of LGBT communities, women, Latinos, and allies will gather on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem for a rally with community leaders and elected officials including Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. The Governor, with the support of elected representatives, members of the business, labor, faith, immigrant and civil rights community, will deliver an important message about solutions to address driver’s license access restoration in Oregon.

Following the rally, participants will march with lanterns through Salem’s downtown carrying these “lights of hope”.

May Day 2012: The Light of Hope March & Rally
A Celebration of Working Families, regardless of immigration status
May 1, 2012
Rally: 6 p.m. | March: 7 p.m.
Oregon State Capitol
Salem, Oregon

CONNECT & RSVP BY CLICKING HERE

Issues to be addressed include:
• Jobs with living wages for ALL Oregon residents
• Educational opportunities from pre-k to college for ALL Oregon residents
• Access to health care services for ALL Oregon residents
• Access to driver licenses for ALL Oregon residents
• A path towards legalization for all immigrants

Elected officials confirmed to attend include Governor john Kitzhaber, Secretary of State Kate Brown, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, State Representative Tina Kotek, State Representative Michael Dembrow, State Representative Brad Witt, and Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen, who will be represented by Policy Advisor Guillermo A. Maciel.

Sponsors (partial list): Causa Oregon, PCUN, Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA), Oregon AFL-CIO, Voz Hispana Causa Chavista, Marion-Polk Move To Amend, Working America, Willamette University Causa Chapter

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http://www.oregonmayday.com/

RSVP HERE:
http://www.facebook.com/events/220604641373277/#!/events/395901180427146/

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Sit-in for Racial Equity staged at Capitol Offices of OR State Representatives

Salem, Ore -- This morning, 75 people staged a sit-in at the Capitol offices of Oregon State Representatives Andy Olson (R-Albany), Vicki Berger (R-Salem) and Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay). Those participating included students, parents, clergy and members of a diverse coalition of organizations including CAUSA, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Urban League, Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO) and Latinos Unidos Siempre (LUS).

The Sit-in was in direct response to bills promoting racial equity--those allowing all Oregonians greater access to basic rights like quality health care and affordable education-- being blocked by partisan gridlock and obstructionism.

Participants in this morning’s action called on the leadership from both parties to work with one another and with those legislators, business leaders, community leaders and countless Oregonians who have already united to support these bills and to break from the status quo and advance racial equity.

“The time has come to rise above partisanship and politics and recognize that people of color make up over 20% of the population of our great state”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA Oregon. “The issues we bring to our lawmakers will not simply go away with the end of session. They need to do what is right for all Oregonians now.”

Participants agreed to end the sit-in after 30 minutes in exchange for a meeting with the Republican and Democratic House Leadership to discuss the future of Tuition Equity and other legislation that promotes Racial Equity.

Currently, Senate Bill 742 Tuition Equity, one of the important pieces of legislation for Oregon’s communities of color, is still sitting in the House Rules Committee and being obstructed from having an up or down vote in the Oregon House.

View additional photos here:
http://s516.photobucket.com/albums/u329/CAUSAOregon/Sit-in%20for%20Racial%20Equity/?albumview=slideshow

Related News Coverage

Ethnic organizations demand racial equity at sit-in The Oregonian

Protestors try to dislodge stalled in-state tuition bill Salem Statesman Journal

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1500 Rally at the State Capitol to Restore Driver’s License Access to ALL Oregonians

1500 Rally at the Oregon State Capitol to Restore Driver’s License Access to ALL Oregonians

Members of the immigrant, faith, labor and business communities call for passage of Senate Bill 845

Salem, Ore.. (April 18, 2011)-- Today, 1500 members of the immigrant, faith, labor and business communities rallied at the Oregon State Capitol. The rally took place preceding the Senate holding a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 845--Oregon's bipartisan Driver’s License Access Restoration Act.
Senate Bill 845 is a bipartisan solution to restore access to driver's licenses to all Oregonians, regardless of their citizenship status. Passage of this crucial piece of legislation corrects the error that the State Legislature made in 2008 and is important for Oregon's public safety and economic prosperity.

The Senate Transportation Committee hearing, which took place in Hearing Room B, was standing room only with all of the overflow rooms filled. Barbara Ghio, a local immigration attorney, testified on behalf of CAUSA. She was joined by members of the Latino, immigrant, faith, labor and business communities who testified during the two hour hearing. (Read Barbara Ghio's testimony on SB 845 here)

Supporters of Senate Bill 845 sent a loud and clear message to the members of the Senate Transportation Committee that their communities value public safety and want ALL Oregonians to have access to Driver’s Licenses.

CAUSA is urging people to continue to contact members of the Senate Transportation Committee and urge them to vote "Yes" on Senate Bill 845 when it come up for a vote. For details on how to contact legislators, please link here.

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CAUSA Oregon presents 2011 Latino Legislative Agenda in Salem

Salem, Ore.-- Yesterday, CAUSA presented it's 2011 Latino Legislative Agenda in a briefing at the Oregon State Capitol. Those attending the briefing included Oregon State Representatives and Senators from both parties—Republicans and Democrats, coalition partners and leaders from the community.

Issues discussed at the briefing  included affordable housing, education, public safety, health, and jobs and the economy.

Those presenting at the briefing included CAUSA's Executive Director Francisco Lopez, Frank Garcia, Executive Director of the Governor's Affirmative Action Office, Oregon State Senator Chip Shields (D-Portland), Oregon State Representative Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City), Oregon State Representative Tina Kotek (D-Portland), Emily McLain, Executive Director of Oregon Student Association (OSA), Oregon State Representative Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland), Oregon State Representative Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Attorney Barbara Ghio, Peter Hainley, Executive Director of CASA of Oregon and Attorney Michael Dale.

Superintendent Susan Castillo 

Also attending the briefing included Oregon Department of Education Superintendent Susan Castillo, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, President of PCUN Ramon Ramirez, Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) Director/CEO Jeff Stone, Kelly Weigel, Director of Western States Center, members of the Service Employees International Union and others.

Videos of speakers presenting at the briefing:

• Francisco Lopez introduces CAUSA's 2011 Latino Legislative Agenda
• Frank Garcia Director of the Governor Kitzhaber's Affirmative Action Office
• Oregon State Senator Chip Shields (D-Portland) discusses Public Safety
• Oregon State Rep. Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City) discusses Healthcare
• Oregon State Rep. Tina Kotek (D-Portland) discusses Public Safety
• Emily McLain with Oregon Student Association discusses Tuition Equity
• Oregon State Rep. Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) discusses Tuition Equity
• Attorney Barbara Ghio discusses the issue of Public Safety
• Peter Hainley, CASA.of Oregon discusses Farmworker Housing
• Attorney Michael Dale discusses Wage Theft
• Francisco Lopez's closing remarks on CAUSA's Legislative Briefing

Photos of the briefing can be found here: http://s516.photobucket.com/albums/u329/CAUSAOregon/2011%20Latino%20Legislative%20Agenda%20Briefing/?albumview=slideshow

Related News:
Oregon Latino community visits Salem to lobby for 2011 legislative agenda

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Bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill Announced Today at Oregon State Capitol

(UPDATED 2/17/11) Salem, Ore--On Monday, CAUSA participated in a Press Conference with the Oregon Student Association (OSA) and several other individuals and organizations as Representative Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) and Senator Frank Morse (R-Albany) announced their co-sponsorship of the bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill, Senate Bill 742.

Senator Frank Morse (R-Albany) announcing bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill 

The bill will ensure that every Oregonian has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also make it possible for ALL Oregon Students, regardless of their citizenship status, to be able to pay in-state tuition.  And besides capitalizing on the investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund.

To qualify for in-state tuition under the bill, a student must meet the following requirements, regardless of their documentation status:

• They have attended an Oregon high School for at least three (3) years
• They have graduated from an Oregon high school
• They have been admitted to an Oregon University System Instiution
• They are working towards residency

Organizations in support of the legislation include Oregon Students Association (OSA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Oregon Education Association (OEA), Center For Intercultural Organizing (CIO), CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Asian Paciic American Network of Oregon (APANO) and others. 

Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 742 include Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D – Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton) and others.

Portland State University President Wim Wiewel and Mount Hood Community College President John Sygielski are also supporting the bill.

Related News:
KATU News Channel 2: http://www.blip.tv/file/4766862
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Lawmakers Again Consider In-State Tuition For Undocumented Immigrants
Corvallis Gazette Times New bill to provide in-state tuition for undocumented students
The Oregonian: Oregon students, legislators announce bill to allow undocumented youth to pay in-state tuition at Oregon colleges
Statesman Journal Oregon bill would allow some non-resident students to pay in-state tuition rates
KOIN News Channel 6:  http://causa.blip.tv/file/4774184/

Related Links:
Senate Bill 742:  http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/sb0700.dir/sb0742.intro.pdf

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Children's March & Rally at the Oregon State Capitol to Highlight Need for Immigration Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

Children's March & Rally at the Oregon State Capitol to highlight Need for Immigration Reform

Salem, Ore.-- Over the last couple months, immigration restrictionists and right-wing politicians in Congress have been calling for a change in the 14th Amendment eliminating citizenship to babies born on United States soil. Instead of promoting immigration reform that would overhaul a severely flawed and broken system, they see it politically opportune to deny citizenship and promote deportation of infants and children.

The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. That no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

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Children's March & Rally at the Oregon State Capitol

Join CAUSA on October 9th for a Children's March & Rally at the Oregon State Capitol where they will call on Federal and State Legislators to:

- Respect the 14th Amendment. Do not take away our children's citizenship.
- Stop dividing families
- Keep racial profiling laws like SB1070 out of Oregon
- Stop local law enforceme...nt from doing the job of ICE. Our State Police, County Sheriff and City Police belong to our communiies, not the federal government.
- Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW!

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Summer 2010 Voter Registration Car Caravan

Join us for our Summer 2010 Voter Registration Car Caravan!
We will meet on the Oregon State Capitol steps and from theredrive to Woodburn were we will walk in the Fiesta Mexicana Parade.

WHAT: Voter Registration Drive
WHEN: August 07, 2010 at 9:00 am
WHERE: Oregon State Capitol Steps
900 Street NE
Salem, Oregon

Bring your family, friends, an American Flag and your car!

en espanol

For more information, contact Lorena Manzo at 503-984-4823
 
Members of the press should contact Erik Sorensen at 503-488-0263
 
¡Si, Se Puede!

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PSA Advertising May Day Unity March and Rally in Salem Released

Watch our new PSA for our May Day 2009 Unity March & Rally in Salem!

In commemoration of International Workers' Day, on Friday May 1st, Immigrant and Labor Rights advocates will march and rally at the Oregon State Capitol to call on elected leaders 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

Signs are on the horizon that millions of undocumented immigrants will finally have a path to legal status and citizenship.

Join us on the Capitol Steps on May 1st at 11:00am to help send a message to Congress and our President that Fair and Just Comprehensive Immigration Reform needs to be passed this year.With your help we can make it happen! Yes We Can! Si Se Puede!

MAY DAY UNITY RALLY & MARCH IN SALEM
Date: Friday, May 1, 2009

Location:
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Oregon 97309

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Sponsors: CAUSA, PCUN, SEIU, Rural Organizing Project, Voz Hispana Causa Chavista, and others

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