Blog
Undocumented Tennesseans Come Out of the Shadows, Welcome ‘No Papers, No Fear’ Caravan
Aug 13, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tania Unzueta, Bus, 773-387-3186
Kyle Kordesmier, Local, 870-776-0145
Megan Macaraeg, Local, 615-414-4364
B. Lowe, National, 773-791-4668
media@nopapersnofear.org
Undocumented Tennesseans Come Out of the Shadows, Welcome ‘No Papers, No Fear’ Caravan
Undocumented immigrants participating in the ‘No Papers, No Fear’ ride will join undocumented Tennesseans in a ‘coming out of the shadows’ event where immigrants will speak publicly about their immigration status and life in the United States, challenge anti-immigrant legislation. The caravan will also welcome six new local riders.
Memphis, TN – The No Papers No Fear Ride for Justice is a national delegation of undocumented people and allies that left Phoenix, Arizona on the anniversary of the state’s implementation of SB1070, July 29th, and is travelling across the country to rally the migrant community to overcome fear and organize to challenge anti-immigrant policies. Six undocumented immigrants from Tennessee, including four from Memphis, will be joining the caravan on it’s way to the Democratic National Convention.
On Tuesday August 14 the No Papers No Fear riders, in coalition with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) will host an event entitled ‘Memphis Unafraid,’ during which undocumented immigrants from Tennessee, Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, and California will ‘come out of the shadows’ to tell their stories publicly. Community members, including workers, mothers and fathers, students, and artists will join the celebration incorporating theater, dance, music and poetry focused on highlighting the injustices caused by a broken immigration system.
Inspired by actions of undocumented students, such as coming out of the shadows events and civil disobedience actions, that have demonstrated the power and results of communities acting and speaking for themselves, the riders are undocumented people from all over the country and their allies, including mothers, fathers, day laborers, people in deportation proceedings, students, and many others who continue to face threats of deportation, harassment, and death while simply looking for a better life in the only nation many of them know and call home.
What: Memphis Unafraid, Coming Out of the Shadows & Cultural Event
Where: El Mercadito de Memphis, 3766 Ridgeway Rd., Memphis, TN. 38115
When: Tuesday August 14, 2012; 5:00-9:00 PM
Who: No Papers No Fear Ride for Justice, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, undocumented immigrants, community members, artists.
More information on the No Papers No Fear Ride for Justice is available at www.nopapersnofear.org, and follow @undocubus on Twitter for updates.
###
More >An Unprecedented Outpouring of Love for the Sikh Community
Aug 10, 2012
The Standing on the Side of Love campaign is amazed by your overwhelming response to our request for messages of love and compassion for the Sikh community. More than 1,800 of you have submitted messages. This level of engagement is unprecedented for Standing on the Side of Love. In fact, more people have taken action to send love to Oak Creek than on nearly any other campaign in our history.
In the coming days, volunteers will handwrite all of your beautiful messages onto orange Standing on the Side of Love cards and string them together in a “love” chain. A coalition of local Unitarian Universalists will then hand-deliver the “love” chain to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. Rev. Chris Buice of the Tennessee Valley UU Church told us that the visual expressions of love that they received after the 2008 shooting are still displayed in their congregation. We hope that this will provide a similarly powerful visual message of love and solidarity to the Sikh community in Oak Creek.
Many of you are also attending local candlelight vigils to honor the victims of the shooting and show solidarity for the Sikh community. At one vigil in San Diego, Julie Schauble was interviewed by the local news while wearing her Standing on the Side of Love t-shirt and offered this beautiful statement:
“He didn’t even see the people he was shooting. He just saw an object for his hatred and fear and anger. And I wanted to say to the Sikh community that… we see you. We see who you are and we recognize you as our brothers and sisters.”
Watch the full coverage of the event here:
Click here to find out if a vigil is planned in your area.
In this midst of this gorgeous outpouring of compassion and love for the Sikh community, we must not forget our Muslim neighbors in Joplin, Missouri, whose mosque burned down last weekend in a suspected arson attack. It’s essential that we continue to remain vigilant in speaking out against religious bigotry and intolerance in our communities.
This week, our partner Shoulder to Shoulder is also encouraging people to join their local Sikh community for worship and the traditional langar community meal as many temples will be dedicating their Sunday services to responding to this tragedy.
Click here to find out if there is a Sikh Gurdwara (temple) near you.
Thank you for helping us to create an outpouring of love for the Sikh community. Your heartfelt words inspire us to continue striving for a just, love-filled, beloved community.
In faith,
Meredith Lukow
Program Assistant
Standing on the Side of Love
The message above went out on Friday, August 10, 2012 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here. More >
Undocubus Riders & Supporters to Rally with ‘Southern 32′ in New Orleans
Aug 09, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jacinta Gonzalez, 504-655-6610. jgonzalez@nowcrg.org
Tania Unzueta, 773.387.3186, media@nopapersnofear.org
B. Loewe, 773.791.4668, media@nopapersnofear.org
August 9, 2012
** Press Conference and Rally, FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2012 at 10:30am CDT**
With Hearing Date Set for Tomorrow, “Southern 32” Leaders alongside Undocubus Riders Ready to Put a Permanent End to ICE Abuse, Stand Up for Basic Rights
Despite Obama Administration Directive to Protect Labor and Civil Rights Defenders,
Southern Immigration Office Continues to Push for Wrongful Deportations in Cover Up of Agency’s Own Abusive Practices
New Orleans, LA – Two years ago, Joaquin Navarro Hernandez was merely standing on the day labor corner when he became the victim of a botched Border Patrol raid. in the chaos that ensued, Joaquin was pursued several blocks by car and assaulted by a bystander. When a neighbor attempted to report the wrongful mistreatment Joaquin had faced, the New Orleans Police Department instead took custody of Joaquin and turned him over to Border Patrol. Even though Joaquin stood up to expose the misconduct and cover up, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to push for his deportation– all in an attempt to cover up their own abuse and avoid a potential scandal.
Joaquin, a devoted father, originally came to the United States to provide for his family and was one of the many day laborers who was called upon to help in the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Since his arrest, Joaquin has been an active leader and spokesperson for the “Southern 32,” a group of immigrant leaders facing deportation for speaking up about civil and labor rights violations. In early May, the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice launched the Stand Up 2012: Make Justice Real campaign to demand that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) follow its own policy directives and end the practice of deporting labor organizers and civil rights defenders in the South. However, as Joaquin’s case shows, the New Orleans ICE office has done a deplorable job when it comes to upholding their own agency’s policies.
At his court hearing tomorrow, Joaquin will continue to fight against the egregious abuse and cover up that led to his arrest and stand up for his own civil rights. Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier ruled in favor of Joaquin, noting that the issues of targeted immigration enforcement and local police involvement in immigration raids are of “substantial public interest in the City of New Orleans, where the plight of the large population of immigrant workers who have assisted in rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina has been a matter of particular concern.” However, despite the opinion of the court, ICE continues to push for Joaquin’s deportation.
Tomorrow’s hearing coincides with the fourth stop in the tour of the No Papers No Fear Ride for Justice, a delegation of undocumented people of all ages, from all over the country and their allies, including mothers, fathers, day laborers, students, and others who face threats of deportation, harassment, and death while simply looking for a better life in the United States. Immediately following tomorrow’s trial at 10:30 am CDT, undocumented migrant riders will gather outside the courtroom to hold a press conference and rally lifting up the cases of the Southern 32 and urge ICE to follow their own policies and protect these defenders of civil, labor and human rights.
WHAT: Press conference and rally with undocumented migrant riders from the ‘No Papers No Fear, Ride for Justice’
WHEN: Friday, August 10, 2012, 10:30 AM CDT (Trial scheduled from 8:30-10:00 AM)
WHERE: Outside the U.S. Immigration Court, One Canal Place, 365 Canal Street.
WHO: ‘Southern 32’ Workers and ‘No Papers No Fear’ Riders, expert witnesses, and community supporters.
VISUALS: ‘No Papers No Fear’ bus traveling across the country, signs made by community organizers, demonstrators.
More >Changes at Standing on the Side of Love
Aug 07, 2012
As the Unitarian Universalist Association bids farewell to Dan Furmansky, we are moving quickly to find our next outstanding Standing on the Side of Love Campaign Manager. On August 1st the position was posted on the UUA website under “Careers” and “Callings/Job Openings.”
Click here to access the position description and share it.
The purpose and principal responsibilities of the position remain the same, and it will continue to be based in Washington, DC.
We will be interviewing candidates in August. If you know someone you think would be an outstanding candidate for this position, please encourage them to apply.
Last month, we significantly expanded the capacity of the campaign by hiring a full-time program assistant. Meredith Lukow has served as both a summer intern with the campaign, as well as a part-time employee over the past year. A recent graduate of American University, Meredith brings a great deal of skill, initiative, and enthusiasm to the newly created position of Standing on the Side of Love Program Assistant.
Rev. Craig C. Roshaven
UUA Witness Ministries Director
Send Love to the Sikh Community
Aug 06, 2012
The message below went out on Monday, August 6, 2012 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.
“As we move forward in the weeks and months ahead, we must do more than express compassion. We must reflect on what conditions make repeated acts of deranged violence possible and take action. The killings we keep witnessing in America are symptoms of a culture that is too tolerant of hatred and too reluctant to restrict access to deadly weapons.”
–UUA President Rev. Peter Morales, in a statement about the tragic murders this weekend at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin
When I was fourteen, my Unitarian Universalist youth group and I traveled to the neighboring town of Oak Creek, Wisconsin to visit a Sikh temple. Yesterday, I was horrified to learn that six of these community members who welcomed a group of rowdy UU teenagers with open arms were murdered. Never could I have ever imagined that something so violent and hateful could happen a mere fifteen miles from my childhood home. The gunman has been described by the Southern Poverty Law Center and others as a “frustrated neo-Nazi” and white supremacist.
Will you join us in creating an outpouring of love for the Sikh community? Click here to send words of prayer, compassion, and love to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.
As a born-and-raised Unitarian Universalist, the news of this tragedy evokes memories of July 2008, when the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, was attacked by a lone gunman with hate in his heart, killing two. The impact was felt by UUs the world over. The astonishing outpouring of support that the Knoxville UU community received from their broader community paved the way for the creation of our campaign for love and justice.
In the wake of this tragedy that strikes so close to home, let us reach out to our Sikh neighbors in compassion and love, welcome them into our hearts and our prayers, and show solidarity with a community that has been so brutally attacked.
Please join us in sending love and compassion to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. Click here to send your message today.
In faith & love,
Meredith Lukow
Program Assistant
Standing on the Side of Love
