PACK THE COURTROOM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15
9:00a.m.
26 Federal Plaza
Corner of Worth & Lafayette
On July 6, 2007 Victor Toro, a Chilean was arrested by the U.S. Border
Patrol, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security while on board
Amtrak in Rochester, New York. He was transferred to Cayuga County Jail
in Auburn, New York and bail was set at $5,000.00.
Mr. Toro was charged with violation of Section 212(a)(6)(A)(1) of the
Immigration & Nationality Act. Victor is an undocumented worker. He
is in danger of being deported back to Chile. Victor’s counsel, Carlos
Moreno and his supporters are calling for political asylum. If Victor
is deported back to Chile, his life is in real danger and he would be
separated from his family and friends.
Victor is a citizen and national of Chile and was jailed and tortured
because of his opposition to the right-wing dictator Augusto Pinochet
government in the early 70’s. Victor was a founder and leader of the
MIR (Revolutionary Left Movement), a people’s organization that led
many militant struggles for the workers and peasants of Chile.
Victor’s past persecution is well documented and his political work has
been the subject of books, including Alistair Horne’s Small Earthquake
in Chile. In addition, Toro was listed along with MIR’s leader Miguel
Enriquez and others, as one of the thirteen most wanted people by the
Pinochet dictatorship in 1973. His wife and compañera, Nieves Ayres, is
a U.S. citizen and his daughter, Rosita Toro, is a legal permanent
resident of the U.S.
Since his arrival in New York Victor has been a dedicated activist in
the city including being one of the founders of La Peña del Bronx, a
long time community and activist organization. The name La Peña along
with the reputation of Nieves and Victor is clearly associated with
struggles against the war, for workers and immigrant rights, against
racism and all social and progressive causes.
La Peña is a mainstay of the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant
Rights, organizing and supporting all its efforts especially May
Day.
Recently, the International Migrant Alliance, composed of over 150
groups, most of them Asian, met in Hong Kong in June and passed a
resolution supporting the call for political asylum for Victor.
Victor has garnered much support including fundraisers where the
revolutionary hip-hop group Rebel Diaz has performed, international
support from around Latin America and elsewhere. He has been asked to
speak at many forums, demonstrations and campuses.
The International Action Center urges to support the case of Victor
Toro. Here is how you can help:
1. Come to Federal Court on Friday, August 15 at 900a.m. Join us in
a picket to demand political asylum for Victor.
2. Send a letter of support to Victor that can be used in press
releases, sent to the court, etc.
Send letter to may1@leftshift.org today!
3. Attend a celebration for Victor and in defense of all immigrants
on Friday evening, August 15 at Local 1199, 6:30pm, 330 West 43rd St.
4. Send a donation to help defray legal costs to Victor’s lawyer:
Carlos Moreno, Esq.
352 7th Avenue, Suite 1204
New York, NY 10001
212.631.7555
Demand political asylum for
Victor Toro!
Pack
the courtroom, Friday August 15
9:00a.m.
26
Federal Plaza
Corner
of Worth & Lafayette
Take
the N to City Hall
or
4,5,6 to the Brooklyn Bridge Stop
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