Immigrant rights are under attack in Virginia and the Education and Outreach Team of Occupy Richmond is calling on all members of the 99% to join the fight!
Currently, conservative lawmakers are attempting to push anti-immigrant legislation through our state government which threatens us all. If these bills pass, police would be able to ask for papers from you based on the color of your skin, undocumented kids would be banned from attending state universities, and new government ID requirements at the polls would target poor and elderly people, preventing them from voting.
We recognize that these bills are part of our state legislators’ anti-immigrant agenda.
We also recognize that immigrants founded this country; that immigrants of years past committed mass genocide against the inhabitant population whereas immigrants of today have not; that immigrants in the United States today have needs that are largely ignored by the US government; that immigrants play a vital role in our workforce; that our economy cannot afford to lose their contribution; that immigrants are an integral part of our diverse culture and their presence enriches the lives of each and every one of us; that we are all Americans.
Furthermore, we recognize that understanding the struggles in communities like the Latino community is crucial to understanding how to achieve socioeconomic justice for all members of the 99%; that corporate greed has made immigration necessary for millions of Latin Americans who have seen their hopes for prosperity – or even for basic standards of living – hoarded by the 1%; that US leaders have been complicit in this process; that US corporations have used the tenants of free market Capitalism to defend crimes against humanity which they have committed in foreign countries; that US wealth has been built with the labor and natural resources of these countries; that US consumers have ultimately benefited at the expense of foreign workers; that our economic relationship with Latin American countries reflects an image of colonialism that has existed for centuries; that the struggle of Latino people extends beyond our border; that it is the shared struggle of all people underrepresented and ignored by the ruling classes because we are the 99% together.
Join us and other organizations with the Virginia Immigrant People’s Coalition on a day of action Friday, February 17th at the VA State Capitol so that we can let our legislators know we care.
11 am – Rally at the Bell Tower at N. 9th St. and E. Franklin St.
12 pm to 4 pm – Literature drops and Lobbying at the VA General Assembly building
No queremos Arizona aquí.