Vol. 71/No. 23      June 11, 2007

“Legalization For All Now!” is the title of a flyer announcing the next activity, a June 14 public meeting sponsored by a coalition of community groups. (See calendar on page 3.) It will include a video showing on the May Day marches in defense of immigrant workers.

The raids here took place in the early morning on March 6 and 7, targeting large apartment buildings and houses in the Canal District, a neighborhood of mostly immigrant workers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cops arrested more than 60 people, including a seven-year-old whose father, a single parent, had nowhere to leave his son.

Opponents of the raids responded by gathering in the early morning in areas likely to be hit again. Starting at 5:00 a.m. on March 9, crowds of protestors, armed with flashlights, cameras, and signs saying, “Immigrants stay, ICE go away!” and “Migra, get out of our town!” stood watch in the Canal District and nearby Navoto, ready to show support for immigrant workers and to document what was happening if la migra returned.

Hundreds more protested the raids in demonstrations later in the day on March 9, March 12, and on May 1.

Neighbors of those arrested and others in the area told the Militant that when they saw the ICE police, or heard of their presence, they immediately spread the word, to warn others to stay off the streets and not to open their doors.

The protests were organized through the combined efforts of people active in two community centers—the Canal Welcome Center and the Canal Alliance—as well as in the Marin Interfaith Council, churches, and other groups.

Pointing to pictures of the demonstrations, as well as the march of 10,000 held on May Day in San Rafael a year ago, Douglas Mundo, executive director of the Welcome Center, notes that the enthusiastic participation of youth in these protests has been especially important.
 
 
Related articles:
‘They can’t deport us all!’
Ohio workers protest immigration sweep
Workers in Georgia town respond to raid by ‘la migra’
 
 
 
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