Democrats in the Massachusetts Senate who voted racist and anti-immigrant
29/05/2010 - The great majority of Senators who are members of the Democratic Party voted in favor of anti-immigrant amendments that would deprive undocumented immigrant of medical and social services. The amendement also would allow for the creation of a free 800 number to report on suspected undocumented immigrants. The Massachusetts Senate is composed of 35 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Only five decent democrats had the guts to vote against the anti-immigrant amendment. To see the roll call check on the link below. [ + ]
A special section for May Day 2010 at noon on the Common
This year, 2010, the Boston May Day Committee decided to dedicate an entire section of its webpage to news about the organizing process leading to May Day on the Boston Common. Please check this section to be up to date on the work being done to organize a strong showing of workers for May Day, native and immigrant alike.
May Day at the Boston Common: broad unity around radical demands
06/05/2010 - For more pictures of the event click here.
Boston activists enjoyed summer-like weather last Saturday on the Boston Common for a protest that looked like a response to the Tea Party of just a few weeks ago. But this demonstration wasn't merely inspired by the urge to counter Sarah Palin. May first is International Workers' Day, traditionally referred to simply as May Day. The holiday is celebrated globally with parades in Venezuela and Cuba, while Greece and Nepal face general strikes and civil unrest. May Day was originally founded in Chicago in 1886 when immigrant workers organized by anarchists struck for an eight hour day.
This year's rally began with a spirited "feeder" march from Boston's North End organized by anarchists, complete with giant puppets of the Haymarket martyrs of Chicago, as well as Sacco and Vanzetti, local Italian anarchists executed in 1926 by the state of Massachusetts in a climate of anti-radicalism and xenophobia. As Dorothea Manuela and Bryan Koulouris began introducing speakers, the crowd began to swell with one contingent after another arriving. There was the Student Labor Action Movement and the Harvard No-Layoffs Campaign arriving from Cambridge. Next came the Student Immigrant Movement marching in graduation gowns. The rally also welcomed buses arriving from Worcester and Fitchburg. In total there were about twenty endorsing organizations.
Open Letter of Protest to the Presidents of Target Corp., Gregg Steinhafel and of Amazon.com, Jeffrey P. Bezos
16/10/2009 - Dear Messieurs Bezos and Steinhafel:
We have seen with disgust the promotion in your respective websites of an "Adult Illegal Alien Costume One Size". We are attaching pdf files of your advertisement, in case you are not familiar with the items. The links are:
As you can see the costume is a prison-like suit in bright orange, including an alien face costume and a large "green card" card. This is obviously making reference to the widespread criminalization by the media and the government of undocumented workers. You are contributing by trivializing a serious, delicate and sensitive matter to bigotry and anti-immigrant sentiments in the United States.
As of Sun. Oct.18, 2009, it seems that Amazon & Target withdrew this offensive item from their virtual shelves. We should follow up Monday with calls to their headquarters, however, the links indicated here pointing to this attrocious costume are no longer active.
Thanks to all who took time to protest this insulting merchandising.
If other companies continue to carry it (somebody mentioned that others might) please let us know and we should also target them (no pun intended) for complains.
Por el “Día de las Madres” manifestantes protestan en frente de la Cárcel del Condado de Suffolk de la Sheriff Andrea Cabral y reclaman poner fin a las redadas, detenciones y deportaciones de inmigrantes indocumentados
En lugar de estar celebrando con sus seres queridos el día más sagrado del año como lo es el “Día de las Madres”, un considerable grupo de manifestantes, decidieron juntarse ese mismo día en los alrededores de la Cárcel del Condado de Suffolk que dirige la Sheriff Andrea Cabral (South Bay Corrections and De- tentions Center) para protestar por la detención de inmigrantes en esta institución y exigir el fin a las redadas, detenciones y deportaciones que hasta la fecha siguen ocurriendo en todos los Estados Unidos.
Con carteles y banderolas que decían: “Alto a las Redadas y Deportaciones”, “Justicia para las Familias Inmigrantes”, “Provean un Camino para la Ciudadanía”, “No nos Moverán, Alto a las Redadas”, etc. y con cánticos como “ICE, ICE Get out of the Way. Happy Mothers Day!” (“ICE, ICE Fuera del Camino. ¡Feliz Día de las Madres!”), los manifestantes dejaron bien claro su mensaje a las autoridades de inmigración: un final a la represion de los trabajadores inmigrantes y de sus familias, legalización para todos los que ya se encuentran aquí en los Estados Unidos y reunificación familiar para los que han sido separados por las redadas y deportaciones. [ + ]
"ICE, ICE, Get out of the way, Happy Mothers Day!" -- Protesters Demanded an End to the Raids, Detentions & Deportations
Boston, May 10, 2009.- Nearly 60 people demonstrated around the Suffolk County Jail in Boston (known as South Bay House of Corrections) in protest for the detention of immigrants in that facility. The signs and the chants indicated what the protesters wanted: an end to the represion of immigrant workers and their families, legalization, family reunification. All this in the context of the commercial celebration of Mother's Day. The prisoners were fully aware of the presence of the demonstrators and banged their cell windows furiously. [ + ]
May Day 2009 Commemorated in the Boston Area with March and Rally
02/05/2009 -
Video by Michael Borkson
Hundreds of immigrant workers and supporters of migrant workers rights marched from East Boston to Everett demanding an end to the raids and deportations, amnesty now and immigration reform. The marchers also remembered the executed Anarchist martyrs of Chicago of 1886. This historic event commemorated by unions the world over by workers of all countries except the U.S. refer to what is known as the Haymarket Affair where 4 anarchist union leaders were sentenced to death by hanging and one more allegedly committed suicide in his cell. All but one of these leaders were recent immigrants from Europe. [ + ]
Towards a united demonstration for migrant workers rights on May 1st in Everett
The Boston May Day Committee decided to forego its traditional May Day demonstration and march in the Boston Common this year. For the last three years at least two such demonstrations took place in the area, one in the Chelsea-East Boston-Everett area and one in the Boston Common. While we are certain that presence in the Boston area for migrant workers rights is important, we hope that by not holding it here this year we will achieve higher attendance in a combined rally. [ + ]
Migrant Groups and Supporters Celebrate International Migrants' Day, 18 December 2008
Over 150 events in 57 countries planned
Hundreds of migrants' groups and supporters around the world are organizing events to promote respect for the dignity and human rights of all migrants on 18 December 2008, International Migrants' Day.
Over 150 events will take place on Thursday, 18 December and surrounding dates, in 57 countries including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mali, Morocco, Philippines, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, UK, and USA.
The 18th of December is the date that the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (MWC), in 1990. The MWC is the principle UN treaty providing protections for the rights of migrant workers (both documented and undocumented) and their families, with regard to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF GLOBAL FORUM ON MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT (GFMD) MANILA AND PEOPLES GLOBAL ACTION (PGA) 2008
Approximately 240 participants from civil society organizations, academia and business participated in the official "Civil Society Days" of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which were held Monday, October 27 and Tuesday, October 28. The full day of October 27 and most of October 28 were workshops, which were structured on the roundtable topics to be discussed in the Global Forum on Migration and Development. On October 28, from 3 – 5:30 pm was "interface" between civil society and governments.
According to comments communicated to MRI, many civil society representatives felt that the Civil Society Days were not structured to allow for very in-depth discussion that could produce very good recommendations to governments.
Last Day of Work at the Social Forum of the Americas
Guatemala, October 11.- The Social Forum of the Americas is coming to an end. Today was the last day of workshops and events at the Universidad de San Carlos. The event will conclude on Sunday with a march and rally at the Plaza Central in the historical downtown area at noon. [ + ]
Foro Social Americas: Evo doesn't show up and our work continues
Guatemala, Oct. 10, 2008.- Evo Morales was "confirmed" up to two days ago to make an appearence on the third day of Forum. However, as some of us walked to the Plaza de los Martires to hear his speach, a friend of one person in the group told us that "Evo didn't make it. The event is cancelled." Before that, the workshop of the Boston May Day Coalition had taken place from 11am to 1pm. For two-and-a-half hour -- because it is customary to wait for a session to begin at least 30 minutes -- we tackled the issue of designing "Strategies to Stop the Repression of Migrant Workers and Obtain Their Rights." Nearly fifty people, mostly young, attended the workshop. [ + ]
Social Forum of the Americas: The work for the delegates has begun
09/10/2008 -
Guatemala, October 8.- The day of work at the Forum begun and activists started the process of finding the location for the workshops, presentations and activities of interest. I attended the presentation entitled, "No wall in the U.S./Mexico border" offered by the Southwest Worker Union and the Indigenous Environmental Network from the U.S. The audience built up to a succesful size and lasted -- like all presentations here -- 2 hours. The dissertation part of the presentation took about 1 hour and 45 minutes, leaving little time for opiniones, comments, or questions. A good lesson to learn. I was lucky to be able to announce our "strategies" workshop for tomorrow morning and many people, including the ones at the podium, agreed with the concept that we already know the situation, and now need to concentrate in finding solutions. [ + ]
The Third Social Forum of the Americas Has Begun in Guatemala
Guatemala City -- October 7, 2008.- The Social Forum of the Americas has begun, with most of the nearly 2000 participants arriving today. The registration process begun normally while switching from an automated system to a manual one. All the packets and a beautiful bag where distributed to each registered delegate. There was not doubt here that Spanish is the official language of the forum. The other undisputed presence is that of the Mayan people. In fact, their presence has been felt not only in numbers, but also in spiritual influence. Mayan religious ceremonies have gone on at dawn and sundown.
The first part of the inaugural event was a full hour-and-a-half of new and old music of struggle from Latin America. Many ofthe participants were able to follow dear songs of struggle like those dedicated to Che Guevara, Solo le pido a Dios (All I ask from God), No basta con rezar (Not enough to pray), and the People united will never be defeated. [ + ]
Taller de la Coalición Primero de Mayo en el Foro Social de las Américas en Guatemala
ESTRATEGIAS PARA FRENAR LA REPRESION DE LOS TRABAJADORES MIGRANTES Y LOGRAR SUS DERECHOS
Universidad de San Carlos, Zona 12
Jueves, 9 de Octubre 2008 -- 11:00 am a 1:00 pm
Edificio: S12 - Salón 205
Boston May Day Coalition delegate will participate in the Social Forum of the Americas in Guatemala
Sergio Reyes will participate in the Social Forum of the Americas (October 7-12) on behalf of the Boston May Day Coalition. The expected attendance in this forum is of about 2000 delegates from South, Central, North America and the Caribbean.
The main themes of the Forum are:
1. Scope and Challenges of the Changes in the Hemisphere: Post-Neoliberalism, Socialism(s), Civilizational Changes
2. Peoples in Resistance to Neoliberalism and Imperial Domination.
3. Defending quality of life in the face of predatory capitalism
4. Diversities and Equality: challenges for achieving them
5. The ideological dispute: communication, culture, knowledge and education.
6. Original, Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples and Nationalities: “Good living” and its keys for the future
The struggle for migrant workers rights, for an end to their exploitation, victimization and abuse falls under theme 3 and the Boston May Day Coalition will be presenting a workshop entitled "Strategies to Stop the Repression of Migrant Workers and Achieve Their Rights". This presentation will take place on Wednesday, from 11am to 1pm, at the University of San Carlos. The University of San Carlos campus will be the site for all presentations.
It is also expected that on Thursday there will be an event in solidarity with the struggle of the Bolivian people. The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales will address the participants.
If you are interested in reading the central document to be presented at the BMDC workshop in Spanish click here. We expect to have it translated shortly.
Human Rights Organization Denounces Egregious Workplace Immigration Raids in Six Meatpacking Plants
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The New England Regional office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) expresses deep concern that the immigration sweeps which recently took place in six Swift & Company meatpacking plants in six states represent an egregious attack on the right to work, and whose sole effect serves to stir up unfounded negative sentiments towards migrants and divide working-class families and migrant communities. Furthermore, some press reports indicate that less than 5% of those detained were charged with identity theft raising serious questions about the use of identity theft as a principle motive behind the raids.
This year, 2010, the Boston May Day Committee decided to dedicate an entire section of its webpage to news about the organizing process leading to May Day on the Boston Common. Please check this section to be up to date on the work being done to organize a strong showing of workers for May Day, native and immigrant alike.
06/05/2010 - For more pictures of the event 
16/10/2009 - Dear Messieurs Bezos and Steinhafel:
En lugar de estar celebrando con sus seres queridos el día más sagrado del año como lo es el “Día de las Madres”, un considerable grupo de manifestantes, decidieron juntarse ese mismo día en los alrededores de la Cárcel del Condado de Suffolk que dirige la Sheriff Andrea Cabral (South Bay Corrections and De- tentions Center) para protestar por la detención de inmigrantes en esta institución y exigir el fin a las redadas, detenciones y deportaciones que hasta la fecha siguen ocurriendo en todos los Estados Unidos. 
Boston, May 10, 2009.- Nearly 60 people demonstrated around the Suffolk County Jail in Boston (known as South Bay House of Corrections) in protest for the detention of immigrants in that facility. The signs and the chants indicated what the protesters wanted: an end to the represion of immigrant workers and their families, legalization, family reunification. All this in the context of the commercial celebration of Mother's Day. The prisoners were fully aware of the presence of the demonstrators and banged their cell windows furiously.
Over 150 events in 57 countries planned
Approximately 240 participants from civil society organizations, academia and business participated in the official "Civil Society Days" of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which were held Monday, October 27 and Tuesday, October 28. The full day of October 27 and most of October 28 were workshops, which were structured on the roundtable topics to be discussed in the Global Forum on Migration and Development. On October 28, from 3 – 5:30 pm was "interface" between civil society and governments.
Guatemala City -- October 7, 2008.- The Social Forum of the Americas has begun, with most of the nearly 2000 participants arriving today. The registration process begun normally while switching from an automated system to a manual one. All the packets and a beautiful bag where distributed to each registered delegate. There was not doubt here that Spanish is the official language of the forum. The other undisputed presence is that of the Mayan people. In fact, their presence has been felt not only in numbers, but also in spiritual influence. Mayan religious ceremonies have gone on at dawn and sundown.