community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Pittsburgh Welcomes Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride
by Quinten
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 12:55 AM
quinten@indypgh.org (email address validated)
Pittsburghers and freedom riders stand vigil at Freedom Corner, across from St, Benedict the Moor Church in the Hill District.
vigil.jpg, image/jpeg, 640x479
Singing "We Shall Overcome," 200 marched through Pittsburgh's Hill District, from Hill House to Freedom Corner.
Invoking the memory of the freedom rides of the 1960s, the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride demands recognition of the plight of immigrant workers; calling for basic protection of civil rights, a clearer road to citizenship, the ability to reunite families, and better protection of rights on the job.
Pittsburgh was just one stop on the way for a tour that will cover more than 100 cities, with 1,000 Freedom Riders setting forth from San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Minneapolis, Miami, and Boston. The rides will all end with a day of lobbying in Washington, DC and a rally in New York City.
A coalition of Pittsburgh labor, student, civil rights, religious and student groups planned for the Pittsburgh stop. Councilman Sala Udin (Hill District) sponsored a City Council proclamation in support of the Freedom Ride. Udin was one of the original Freedom Riders.
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by saleh
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 11:31 AM
salehw@yahoo.com
the event also included a reception of the immigrant workers at the Kaufman Center of the Hill House, where there was dinner and Latin American music. After the event at Freedom Corner everyone was recieved at St. Benedict the Moore where Fr. D'Amico gave a welcome that highlighted St Benedict's current role in recieving immigrant workers, and immigrant workers from Pittsburgh and the freedom ride got to speak out. There's more at iwfr.org
perhaps more than simply a path to citizenship I think one of the 4 main goals was a *clear* path to documentation. All workers are weaker when one group is discriminated against because it becomes harder for workers to cooperate as equals around their common struggles.
This is a FARCE
by George K.
Thursday, Oct. 02, 2003 at 3:52 PM
dodgerambler@yahoo.com
This "ride of the illegals" is a slap in the face to all of the immigrants who have LAWFULLY come to America searching for a new way of life and prosperity. This "ride" is nothing more than a way to transport illegal aliens across country with publicity, so they are not immediately siezed and deported, AS THEY SHOULD BE, BY ALL THE LAWS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN THIS SOVRIEGN COUJNTRY!!!
Do you naive idiots actually think this type of ride would be tolerated in Mexico? You dopes would be snatched by the policias and, if not tortured first, deported. In Brazil, many illegals have been killed. This is nothing more than socialist propaganda that is being foisted upon a public that is powerless to stop the flood of illegal immigrants, especially from Mexico. There is no racism involved here. Immigration is related to how a country is managed, for security and social service purposes. A tidal wave of immigrants will overwhelm both of these areas, and create an even larger backlash against immigrants.
consider the investigation into the organization of MEChA that Cruz Bustimante was, and possibly still IS, a member. It seeks subversion of the government of the US. It openly endorses violence against non-hispanic peoples. It seeks to encourage undocumented border crossing. This is just not tolerable, and this is an organization that many of these ILLEGAL people on the ILLEGALnofreedomride will turn to for support. These people are NOT Americans, until they are LEGALLY Americans, and they understand our laws, history, and LANGUAGE. They do not have a VALID ID. The matricula consular is NOT valid. Since Mexifornia has now seen fit to allow the Matricula Fraudular card to be used for obtaining a drivers license, the government is now considering forcing Americans to use their passports for all DOOMETIC travel. How do you like that? illegal immigration has now forced us all to get FEDERAL ID CARDS TO TRAVEL BY AIR.
You starry-eyed idealists are children. Retarded children at that.
Unicorns, Faeries, and Borders
by Realist
Friday, Oct. 03, 2003 at 9:37 AM
Borders are as real as unicorns and faeries and flying Jesuses and talikng donkeys and virgin births.
It's sad that idiots still spend so many resources to try and will these make-believe things into existence.
George's racism is showing again. You can't say surprised.
Our Strategy
by annie & libby
Friday, Oct. 03, 2003 at 10:20 AM
"Borders are as real as unicorns and faeries and flying Jesuses and talikng donkeys and virgin births.
It's sad that idiots still spend so many resources to try and will these make-believe things into existence.
We know what we'll do to attract people to our movement. We'll make fun of people who believe in Jesus and God and the virgin birth. So many in the working class believe in such foolishness, so we'll spit in their faces and tell them it's all make-believe. That's it! We'll belittle the very people we need to join us in our causes. They'll feel so bad they'll just have to join us. Who wouldn't want to be part of a movement where we make fun of and spit on people who believe in God? What a great plan!
Our "Strategery"-Patronize and Enable
by Realist
Friday, Oct. 03, 2003 at 11:09 AM
Sure, don't tell working people that wrestling isn't real, or that NASCAR isn't a sport, or that the Stuffed Flight Suit in Chief isn't their drinking buddy or that Saddam did 9/11 or that buying a Humvee won't make their penis bigger or any of the other lies that are put out for mass consumption.
Don't tell the truth or risk offending people.
Good idea.
Fellow citizens of the USA and of the world...
by BraveNewWorldOrderFighter
Friday, Oct. 03, 2003 at 11:10 AM
BraveNewWorldOrderFighter@yahoo.com
If we all don't learn how to get along on this little planet, the human species just might become extinct.
Does GOD weep?
borders
by me
Sunday, Oct. 05, 2003 at 7:56 PM
The world would be a better place if their were no borders, no countries, no gods, mo masters.
But humans cling to silly ideas to make themselves feel better. The cage becomes our protection, instead of our demise.
It's sad to see what has become of the human race.
Cages = Safety!
When will you people evolve. Just let go and you'll see you don't need what you thought you did!
borders
by me
Sunday, Oct. 05, 2003 at 7:56 PM
The world would be a better place if their were no borders, no countries, no gods, mo masters.
But humans cling to silly ideas to make themselves feel better. The cage becomes our protection, instead of our demise.
It's sad to see what has become of the human race.
Cages = Safety!
When will you people evolve.? Just let go and you'll see you don't need what you thought you did!
Wow, this sounds like a ...
by George K.
Monday, Oct. 06, 2003 at 2:11 PM
dodgerambler@yahoo.com
...convention of Star Trek writers ( no offense intended to the support base of Trekkies we so MUCH NEED FOR OUR MOVEMENT!!!!).
Borders are invisible socio-economic lines of control that have existed for men and women as long as there has been written history. Borders are as much as a means of control as they are a way to ensure a nations safety and prosperity. So what? Any good sword is always double-edged, so enforcing the nations borders by controlling the flow of people in and out is necessary.
WHY IS THIS RACIST?
You dumb fuckers throw this word around without understanding it.
Unless these people get their legal approval to come to the US to work and stay, then they, by default, are illegal and must leave. The companies that employ them are also legally liable for employing these people as well. These companies are subject to legal action too. See this story: 60 workers detained in raid
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/6929308.htm
The only reason more illegal workers were not caught the first time is that the magnitude of the problem was not understood. More agents were needed. People in the US are tired of subsidizing illegal immigrants lives when they cannot sustain their own.
One only has to recall some of the more violent backlash in Germany in the last decade against Turkish immigrants who were there to work as cheap labor to understand how bad a backlash can get.
Union propaganda
by George K.
Monday, Oct. 06, 2003 at 2:18 PM
dodgerambler@yahoo.com
Ha...and no surprise to what is found at the bottom of the International Freedom Ride Web Page?
This:
� 2003 Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union
SUCKERS!
They are doing this too keep up the flow of CHEAP LABOR AND MORE UNION DUES TO FILL THEIR UNION COFFERS FOR ORGANIZED CRIME!
http://www.iwfr.org/
by George K.
Monday, Oct. 06, 2003 at 2:22 PM
dodgerambler@yahoo.com
bottom of this page
http://www.iwfr.org/
� 2003 Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union
Leading to this
http://www.hereunion.org/
It specifically mentions that is has a high membership of Latinos.
Show me a border...
by realist
Monday, Oct. 06, 2003 at 2:24 PM
or a talking donkey or a flying jesus or a flying epileptic caravan driver or a dragon
Be A Positive Influence
by Max
Tuesday, Oct. 07, 2003 at 9:32 AM
Good point annie and libby. Too many people in the struggle don't recognize how important it is to be tactful in their speech and in their approach. It's one thing to say "We shouldn't have gone to war in Iraq, and here's why", and a whole other matter to say "and if you don't agree with me, you're stupid", which is something that happens way too often, especially among those newer comrades who are younger and immature. And there is no quicker way to turn people off than to speak down to them about their religious beliefs. If you want to completely lose influence with working class people that would be great assets to our cause, just talk down about their belief in God, call them idiots and say what they hold dear to them is all make-believe. I assure you, not only will they remember you and what you said, they'll tell their friends. Now a completely uncalled for statement has grown influence beyond the immediate recepient, and the statement will be carried over to more than just the one who said it, it will be laid at the feet of all who associate with that person.
I say that to say this: Your influence, what you say to our fellow travelers on this planet, goes beyond you and your immediate world. If you can't hold your toungue for yourself, do it for those of us who are active in the struggle who wish to maintain an influential report in our community. Your insulting of people's personal beliefs is not helping your comrades as we strive to move forward.
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