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Page 2
Immigrant Rights (continued
from Page 1)
sought to cut off public aid to
undocumented workers. The same businessowners
(and their pandering politicians) who refuse
to pay livable wages, began to dismantle "safety
nets" for the poor, many who are immigrants.
(They are surely inheritors of industrialist
who fought against the eight-hour work day -
that led to the May 1 strike of 1886).
Today's anti-immigrant forces
- from the Minute Men to neo-liberal activists
- argue that the issue isn't about race or religious
prejudice, but rather about economic necessity
and "population stabilization". But
even these argument, at heart, are racist. The
implication is that one sort of person is somehow
superior to another. That one's own child (or
tribe) is inherently more valuable that another's.
Such nonsense is the antithesis
of humanity and the principles enshrined in
this experiment called "America".
Our
Declaration, Constitution and tremendous
statue-gift
from the people of France stand for
the rights of all people to enjoy inalienable
rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
This, is the dream and hope of America.
Immigrants, whether recently arrived
or on this continent for hundreds of years,
shall be treated with equal dignity and value.
From the language (no person is "illegal")
that is used to refer to undocumented workers
to the policies regarding their housing, healthcare,
education and livelihoods, all people should
be given the full benefits of participation
in, and contribution to, society. No one should
live in fear or needlessly face prejudice because
of where they happened to be born.
Texans for Peace,
as followers of peace and social justice,
will stand
firmly by anyone who faces discrimination
and work to build up, rather than tear down,
families. We will continue to counter and oppose
anti-immigrant legislation, the criminalization
of immigrant communities, the militarization
of the Texas border, the detention and deportation
of immigrants, while showing friendliness by
making room for all of our fellow Texans.
We will gently counsel our anti-immigrant
neighbors and work with others to build bridges
to one another rather
than building walls. And, we will march
for the rights of immigrants because we also
remember what it's like to
be a stranger in a new land.
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Immigration
Rights Marches on May 1 (Thursday) 2008
Austin - 4:30 pm Rally at the Capitol,
5:30 March
Houston - 2 pm Rally at Mickey Leland
Federal Building, 3 March
San Antonio - 5 pm Rally at La Plaza
del Zacate, 6:30 March
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Peace,
Charlie Jackson
Texans for Peace
LAST WEEK:
On Earth as it
is in Texas
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