MAJOR MAY DAY COALITIONS HOLD WEST & EAST COAST JOINT NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCES

For Immediate Release

For information contact:

• Phoenix: Paul Teitelbaum (520) 906-0234
• New York: Teresa Gutierrez (917) 328-6470;
• Los Angeles: Ron Gochez (323) 602-3480;
• Miami: Mike Martinez (786) 985-9048

WHAT: This week nationwide press conferences are being held in various cities by leading coalitions in the immigrant rights movement to collectively denounce attempts to criminalize immigrants, from the recent bill in Arizona to the Schumer plan. Included in the media events are the May 1st Coalition in Tucson, Arizona; the May 1st Coalition in New York, New York; the Miami May Day Coalition in Miami, Florida; and here in Los Angeles the Southern California Immigration Coalition (SCIC). ARIZONA ACTIVISTS Leilani Clark, one of the nine students who chained themselves to the Old Capitol Building in Phoenix, and Paul Teitelbaum, coordinator for the May 1st Coalition in Tucson will be participating and providing a statement at each press event in each city via phone.

WHEN/WHERE:

• Los Angeles: Thurs. April 29th @ 5PM/Santee Education Complex (Cafeteria) 1921 Maple Ave.

• Miami: Friday April 30th @ 11 AM/Miami Little Haiti at Dessalines;

• Tucson: Friday April 30th Place & Time TBD;

• New York: Wed. April 28th @ 5 PM/Union Square (south end at 14th St.);
  

SPEAKERS WILL SUPPORT THE CALL FOR A
BOYCOTT OF ARIZONA

On Saturday May 1 a diverse coalition of immigrant rights advocates, community and union leaders, artists and youth-based community groups around the country will gather in support of immigrant and worker rights. In light of Arizona passing SB1070 last week, these events will strongly condemn that racially charged law which terrorizes not only immigrants but all communities of color. That law attempts to divide and weaken a potentially powerful fight back of all working people for jobs and equality. By scape-goating immigrants, blatantly racist politicians and their corporate backers are trying to divert attention away from banking and financial monopolies (eg: Goldman Sachs) and military spending - the real authors of this latest economic crisis and massive job loss.

The press conferences will point out that the Schumer Plan on immigration is no better since it doesn’t grant immediate legalization, continues to militarize the border and will ominously mean biometric identification for all workers in this country. The plan further criminalizes the undocumented, driving them deeper underground.