A Message From Petra Falcon, Promise Arizona Dream Vote Today

Petra Falcon is one of my mentors, a person in whom I have great respect.  She sent me this message and asked we pass it along!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Tim,

If there was ever a moment when we needed all your faith and action, today is it.

The House leadership announced last night that the DREAM Act will come up for a vote today. And this afternoon, the Senate will be voting on the cloture motion that would allow the Senate to proceed to a vote on the DREAM Act. NOW is the time to do everything we can to pass the DREAM Act!

We urge you to support the thousands of DREAMers in Arizona and across the nation through your prayers and phone calls to representatives.

Call your Senators: English: 866-996-5161 | Spanish: 866-961-4293
Call your Representative: English: 866-967-6018
Call a targeted Senator: English: 866-587-6101 | Spanish: 866-956-3902

All our Members of Congress have to hear from us, but especially the following Arizona representatives who need a good final push to vote YES!

Congresswoman Giffords Arizona Office: (520) 881-3588 & DC Office (202) 225-2542
Rep. Kirkpatrick Arizona Office: (928) 445 3434 & DC Office (202) 225 2315/

Tell the staffer who answers that you're counting on them to stand on the just side of this issue by voting for the DREAM Act which will give our young people a chance to fulfill their dreams and serve their country.

In prayer and solidarity,

Petra Falcon
Executive Director
Promise Arizona

P.S. Please forward this message widely!

The Dream Act could add billions to the economy and reduce the deficit!  It would add hundreds of potential recruits in defense of our country!  Hundreds of young people are at risk of deportation as we speak!

BuzzNet Tags: dream activist,dream act,petra falcon,promise arizona,john mccain,congresswoman giffords,rep. kirkpatrick,immigration refrom,cir,rifa

Denver Public School students march against HB 1070, immigration reform, pro rifa!

They are organized

they are mad

and they

have a right to be!

 

You have to wonder what the legislature in Arizona was thinking when they passed HB 1070, a law that made it mandatory for police officers to determine the immigration status of anyone they suspected might be “illegal”. 

Early arrivals to the capitol 

A lot of people feel the intention was racist.  I think it was, too.  What I hope my Latino brothers keep in mind is it was an Anglo Democrat who vetoed this law year after year.  It wasn’t until Republican Jan Brewer came to town, I mean office, the law was passed!

There were four major points

Schools from through out Denver participated

Some walked nearly all day

 

Meanwhile, there are marches, there are boycotts, there is public outrage, and there is more to come!  Effectively, if you are Latino, no matter your immigration status, Arizona is a bad place to be! 

So we march!  That includes me!  Because this is not just a Latino issue.  This a patriotic issue.  This can’t happen in the country I knew.  When it happens now, I am going to stand up and be counted.  When it comes to Denver, Co., there is one little me and a lot of other people!

Meanwhile, bull dog “Little Joe” Arpaio hit Arizona hard!   He knew he was going to be even more famous by sending his 900 goons specially trained in “immigration enforcement”.  I call Arpaio “little Joe” because a bully with a badge is “little” in my book!

Americans are wet backs too!  Guess what boss, we are all Americans, including those from Mexico and Central and South America, but I get the point!

If you live in Maricopa County in Arizona, GET OUT NOW!  Please don’t think every Anglo cat you meet feels the same way!  Most of us don’t but we can’t control right wing nut cases like “Little Joe”.

 

We had a surprise today.  Diana DeGette, Democratic Congresswoman from Colorado, stopped by to give us some words of encouragement!  Diana says she thinks ALL children should have a crack at school and we need to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) Now!

Julian Ross, Executive Director of the Colorado Immigrant’s Rights Coalition (CIRC) danced a little jig during a spare second…

We had Edgar Niebla, a victim of an ice raid last week.  Thanks for attorney Laura Lichter and the fast action of CIRC and caring friends, Edgar won temporary freedom in two days.  They had planned to have him in Mexico in two days.  We won one!

 

Edgar speaks about his crying mom who

watched him being led away…

Padres y Jovenes Unidos de Denver, Colorado, was a major organizing force.  They provided some guidance but truly, the students of Denver, Colorado, put it together!

Julietta of Padres y Jovenes Unidos speaks!

Julieta speaks with her heart about how it feels to be profiled, about respect each of us must have for ourselves, about unity and about the ugly law in Arizona!

We had good security.  I would say that is because they put me on the security squad.  That would be a mistaken statement.

Let’s be honest.  Would you argue with the chief of security?  Even if what he says is not funny, it is funny, get my drift, Vern?  I am sure this was a pretty good laugh for both of us!

We also had Denver Police in force.  Our side was orderly and quiet.  None of us wanted to shed a bad
reputation for the cause!  The students understood this and behaved like future leaders, each making his own sacrifice for the benefit of the cause.  That is a leader!

It was a great time today!  Something you don’t forget! 

  

We made some points, we worked hard, we joined hands today in unity for a cause that is way past due for new legislation!

Technorati Tags: padres y jovenes unidos,arizona 1070,arizona boycott,denver public schools,arpaio,immigration reform,diana DeGette,circ,edgar niebla,ice raids

We escalate for peace, for freedom, with wisdom, immigration reform (RIFA) moves forward

“Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government using no form of violence.”  says Wikipedia. 

It is a form of speech.  It is saying, “We respectfully disagree with the

Arizona protesters chained to capital door

photo from channel 12 news

current direction our government is taking”.  It is an effective means of changing unjust public policy.  It was used in the civil rights movement of the 1960's.  

Our actions are designed to draw attention to a cause the main-stream press has forgotten.

Maybe the press won’t forget about us now.  Not if Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signs HB 1070 turning every police department into a mini immigration enforcement squad.  Maybe it is time to “escalate” and bring more attention to the cause.

How do we civilly disobey? 

The answer is a deeply personal one.  There are consequences to civil disobedience.  It all sounds romantic, but refusal to obey commands by a just or unjust police authority may mean serious jail time.  You can’t do much for civil rights sitting behind bars in an orange jump suit!

Or can you?  If there were thousands of us?

Maybe if we band together, all races, all cultures and from every national origin and we say:

“We are not working this week” – no jail time, or “We are not leaving the capital steps or governor’s office until the law changes or you remove us.” - probably jail time.

Then we sacrifice for others.  Jails are not nice places to be.  But then, it is ugly to sit in an immigration “detention” facility with your daughter crying because daddy is not coming home and your wife wondering how she is going to pay the bills!

One thing for sure.  However we choose to engage in civil disobedience, it must be done with peace.  We could lose the immigration battle if things turn ugly. 

A nation watching people demonstrate for a just cause is one thing.  A nation watching a frightened people fight with violence when they hear bad news from an ugly legislature in Arizona, is quite another.  Right now, the Arizona legislature is a rotten apple.  Violence turns us into a barrel of rotten apples.  There is no wisdom in that!

The whole point of civil disobedience is to draw attention to our cause, to garner public support and if we cannot have public support, at the least to show a reticent people what things will look like without immigrant labor. 

Before we resort to civil disobedience, Senator Gutierrez has a suggestion:

Call Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s office!

Swamp their switchboard! It is easy compared to spending 30 days in the pokey, and a lot less expensive than losing a week’s worth of wages in a work stoppage. 

Let’s use wisdom in our civil disobedience!

Governor Brewer’s Telephone: (602) 542-4331

Governor Brewer’s e-mail message board: http://azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

RIFA act now, join the movement!

If Governor Jan Brewer passes her hate law then let’s give Governor Jan fair warning.  We are going to civilly disobey. 

I am ready.  Are U? ~

Technorati Tags: protesters arrested,9 protesters arrested,chained to,capital doors,jan brewer,h.b. 1070,rifa,immigration reform,reform immigration for america,cir asap,civil disobedience,work stoppage

RIFA Las Vegas a big hit! Do you want to bet on immigration reform CIR?

I wouldn't want to bet against it!

That is because this isn't your father's immigration reform...it is your children's!

"Do you have children here today?" rocketed the voice from the stage set up beneath the the federal court house on Las Vegas Boulevard South.  "That is why we can't give up.  Immigration reform is for them!"

You could hear the voice of conscience all the way to your soul!  And then it came in the voice of an 11 year old, singing her heart out for the future of the nation to hear:

"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

She sent chills down my spine just in time because I thought I was going to drop from heat stroke! 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed his desire to see immigration legislation introduced post haste.  Meanwhile, my brothers and sisters from Colorado are wondering where Mark Udall is, and why he remains silent on the immigration reform issue.  Pehaps he has forgotten his Latino base?

Then it got even hotter.  It was a blazing sun that would have warped the strength out of anyone as it beat down upon our heads.  Yet, the hotter it got the stronger we became, and the longer we stood in the heat, shouting and chanting and for me, cyring, the stronger we became, and by the time it was over I had a deep sense about all of this.

Las Vegas is a betting town but I wouldn't bet against Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) and the Reform Immigration For America (RIFA) movement.  If reform does not come this year it will come soon.  Today's youth won't have it any other way!

DENVER ROLLS 2 LAS VEGAS, RIFA REFORMA MIGRATORIA

3 BUSES AND

COUNTING!

     Denver, Colorado, has always had a vibrant immigrant community.  That is especially true when it comes to fighting for basic human rights and the rights of immigration reform! 

The efforts of State RIFA coordinator Julie Gonzalez are paying off, DENVER ROLLS 2 RIFA LAS VEGAS!  I was able to speak with Julie during a hectic schedule today.  She says they have added a bus to the event that could help send elected officials to the halls of Congress for a vote on immigration!

     Response has been overwhelmingly Si se puede! as the immigrant population and friends of all those who seek to end the oppresion in the U.S. come in support~!

Julie Gonzalez Colorado RIFA State Coordinator

• Come get your seat while it lasts!
•  
• Denver, Colorado leaves 6:00 Friday, Stops on Route
•  
• We March Saturday in Las Vegas!
•  
• Enjoy the time after the march to yourselves!
•  
• We return Sunday night or early monday morning!
•  
• $115 includes bus, room and food!
•  
• 303.893.3505 109

Para->Los->Hijos

Come join us for

a great way to

make a difference!

¡Rifa

CU

n

LV!

Technorati Tags: rifa las vegas,rifa march in las vegas,rifa denver,immigration reform,connecticut

 

 

Manifestación en Las Vegas RIFA PRO REFORMA MIGRATORIA

Technorati Tags: manifestacion en las vegas,rifa pro reforma migratoria,immigration reform,las vegas rally,april 10th,2010,

¡Se Ve! 

¡Se Siente!

¡El Evento esta

 Presente!

Un Evento Masiva en

Las Vegas, Nevada

E.E.U.U.

Cuando: 

Abril 10, 2010

Donde:

333 Las Vegas Boulevard Sur

Las Vegas, Nv.

Hora:

12:00 de la tarde

 

Nuestro quebrantado sistema migratorio está perjudicando a nuestra economía, a las familias, y a todos los trabajadores estadounidenses. La solución es una reforma migratoria amplia. El presidente Obama apoya la reforma, pero sólo el Congreso tiene el poder de aprobar la legislación.

No podemos descansar! Debemos actuar a

hora! Queremos una reforma migratoria este año!

Registro Aqui

Acompaña

• 
  
  al Senador
• Harry Reid

• 
  
  al Representante

Luis Gutierrez

en una

Manifestación

 Masiva

En apoyo a la reforma

migratoria en Las Vegas

el 10 de abril.

El evento será gratis!

¡Arriba RIFA!

Estoy a favor de Circ y RIFA. Estoy a favor de la reforma migratoria. Sin embargo, esta página web es la mía, pero mucho de la infomacion es de RIFA.  Entonces, no puedo hablar por ellos.

RIFA Julia Gonzalez says Michael Steel promises support for immigration reform, she asks where is mark udall?

COLORADO RIFA COORDINATOR

JULIE GONZALES

Speaks out...

WHERE IS MARK UDALL?

IT was with some trepidation that I opened the gate and begin a summit of the immense cement staircase to the RIFA headquarters located on East 14th Avenue in Denver Colorado’s North side.  These were steps I should have taken long ago and I wondered what kind of reception I would find at the end of the mountain of stairs. 

“Sorry, but you are years late, we can’t use you” would have been fair.  I suffer from low self esteem anyway and figured it would be deserved.

Julie Gonzales  

 

What do you say when you are years late for the party?

“Hello, I have arrived!”  That would have been too much. 

I was out of breath, a little nervous, o.k. very nervous.  After all, here is a guerro entering what surely must be mostly a Latino staffed office, asking for a seat at the table for immigration reform.  Fortunately, I had paused to take a deep gulp of OX2 before entering RIFA HQ.

“How can I help you” was the cheerful greeting when I managed to get through the doors to the RIFA office.  RIFA stands for Reform Immigration For America.  This is a place where the suffering stops and the work starts.

“Hi, my name is Tim Paynter and I am here to do whatever it is you need me to do for this great cause.”  It was kinda rehearsed but it came from my heart. 

What do you think was her response?

Julie Gonzales March for America

“Glad you are here!” 

Wow! So far so good! 

The gal who was helping me said she would get the state coordinator for RIFA to speak with me, and I was in luck, the coordinator was in!  Let’s see if she was free.

I was trying to decide what to say if I got sent away, when the RIFA coordinator for the state of Colorado, Julie Gonzales, came out and introduced herself. 

What?  I wasn’t in the office longer than five minutes and the state coordinator was going to talk with me?  Maybe I should wear shorts and a T-shirt more often!  I tell my clients if I have to put on a suit it is going to cost them extra!

There was nothing pretentious about the Colorado state coordinator.  She sat me down and listened to a guy who was years late to dinner.

“How much time do you have to help!”

Wow!  They wanted my help!

“As much as you need.” I replied.

Julie smiled.  I knew she had been putting in long hours at ground Zero.  Probably, if I was willing, I could put in long hours, too.

Julie showed me around the office and told me a little bit about the organization.  She explained the office was shared by three different organizations.  There was the state chapter of RIFA, then there was CIRC, Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition and finally the Coloradans for Immigrant Rights (CFIR) which in turn is a project of American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization which includes people of various faiths devoted to social justice and peace.  

Then with bright eyes, Julie told me a little bit about the March on Washington D.C. and what a success it had been.  We also talked about the next big event in Las Vegas on April 10th, 2010.  She told me about a lot of hard work in progress and a lot of hard work to go.

“This is going to be really cool” I was thinking to myself. 

Then Julie asked me to sit in with her while she did a radio interview.  She had her computer notes ready for the cat on the other end of the line.  I quickly assumed the task of hitting the wake-up button on her computer as it frequently went into sleep mode.  Hey, my first job!

“I am a little nervous” Julie told me before she went on the air.  Nice to know I am not the only one who gets nervous, although Julie did not look a bit nervous to me.
Then I saw a true soldier for the cause go to work.  Julie didn’t need me to hit the wake-up button on the lap top.  She quickly abandoned her notes as she began to speak from her heart.  Her presentation was great and her enthusiasm was contagious!

The Colorado contingent to the RIFA march on America to Washington D.C. was a big success, she told the radio announcer.  They raised a ton of money to send the buses to Washington, I think the number was $17,000 bucks.  Another $12K was destined for the April 10th march in Las Vegas.  I am sure those who are willing to brave the Nevada sun would appreciate anything you can pull out of your pocket for this great cause.

Where is the Democratic Senator from Colorado, Mark Udall?  Apparently, the Senator has not been vocal regarding immigration reform as of late.  If immigration reform is going to pass it will take everything the Democratic

Mark Udall

Party has to throw at it plus a good showing from the Republican side of the isle.  If you have seen Mark lately, you might want to give him a call.  His public is waiting…

The big news for the day was a meeting with Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, Wednesday, March 31st, 2010.  Julie indicated the powerful Republican leader had promised his support during the meeting with immigration advocates.

Michael Steele 

 

Technorati Tags: afsc,cfir,colorado rifa,reform immigration for america,republican national chair michael steele,bondage club,rnc chair,where is mark udall,lindsey graham,chuck schumer

According to reports, Steele’s support will come with the recruitment of another Republican to join with Senators Lindsey O. Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Senator Charles E. Schumer, a Democrat from New York.  

According to an article written by Julia Preston of the New York Times, there is some misunderstanding.  She said:            

“Doug Heye, a spokesman for Mr. Steele, dismissed that account as “100 per cent inaccurate.” (Referring to the a RIFA press release.)

Preston continues with Doug Heye’s statement:

“Mr. Steele ‘makes it a priority to meet with different grassroots activists who are concerned with the direction of our country,’  Mr. Heye wrote in an e-mail. ‘Today’s meeting was meant as an opportunity to listen to concerns and discuss the Republican Party’s strong support of legal immigration.



Michael Steele


Any claim that the RNC made any policy commitments is a clear misrepresentation.'” 

Here is a quote from the RIFA press release:

“On March 31, ten leaders with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) met with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele to discuss the future of comprehensive immigration reform in the Republican Party. They walked away with a commitment from Steele to work with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and the party's leadership to enlist another Republican senator's support for comprehensive and bipartisan immigration reform.”

Let’s just say brilliant minds can differ.  Brilliant minds can count, too.  While the official count for the March on Washington on March 21st, 2010 was 200,000, unofficial reports put the number closer to 500,000 marchers.  Put 10 people behind every marcher and that equals 5,000,000 votes.  Which party wants to lose them?

The Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition is heartily non- partisan.  I do not speak for CFIR, CIRC, RIFA or anyone else other than myself.  One thing is for sure, count me in on the 5,000,000.  
Oh, one other thing.  I know I am late to dinner, but I feel like I just came home.  Thanks Julie!

Technorati Tags: julie gonzales,rifa,circ,colorado immigrants rights coalition,firm,immigration reform,michael steele,micheal steele meets with 10 immigrants rights,mark udall,tim paynter,march on america,march to las vegas,rifa las vegas