[GPRI] Rally in New Bedford, Sat March 17th @ 2:30pm

[Wald, Sarah]

**DISTRIBUTE WIDE AND FAR!!  Please turn out and get others to turn out. 

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SUPPORT NEW BEDFORD - A  CITY OF IMMIGRANTS

Please come out to support the New Bedford Immigrant Community on Saturday March 17th. The rally will be happening at the Federal Building in Downtown New Bedford at 2:30pm.  

Providence will have carpools leaving from Faunce Arch  (Brown University) and DARE (340 Lockwood St) at 1:30pm.
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Federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer Tuesday March 7th in full military style (including helicopters).  At least 340 workers were detained from the Michael Bianco Inc. factory.  The factory employs mostly women and mostly immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador (but also immigrants from Cape Verde, Brazil and Portugal). Early reports show the raid destroyed hundreds of families and left dozens upon dozens of babies and young children without a home.  Over 100 children were directly affected. Some of the detainees were already flown out to Texas to a larger detention area.  Somewhat coincidentally, the raid led to the arrest of a handful of unscrupulous employers - none of whom were charged for any of their violations of labor law. Federal officials are calling Tuesday's attack the largest INS raid in recent history.


OTHER WAYS TO HELP
1)      Monetary Donations Are Needed:

MIRA is collecting money in a separate account to be distributed to community organizations responding in the affected areas. All donations through this account will be distributed to the affected New Bedford families.

To Donate On-Line: [ https://www.communityroom.net/donate.asp?id=331 <https://email.brown.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://email.brown.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://www.communityroom.net/donate.asp?id=331> ]   Choose "MIRA" as the recipient, then specify that the funds are for "New Bedford Immigrant Families / Ninos Fund." Or send a check to the MIRA Coalition, 105 Chauncy St , Boston , MA 02111 . Please specify in the memo line that the funds are for "New Bedford Immigrant Families / Ninos Fund." Donations are tax-deductible and all donations marked "New Bedford Immigrant Families / Ninos Fund" will be distributed to the affected families through the appropriate local community and service organizations.


2)      Attend Tuesday's Press Conference 


PRESS CONFERENCE, MARCH 13th at 5pm, at the immigration Office (200 Dyer Stre. Providence)

Enough! No More Raids - solidarity with our companeras in New Bedford.  Providence shows our solidarity as we declare our city A Raid-Free Zone.

Together, we reject the terror.

Sponsored by: Nuevo Amanecer of St. Teresa, English for Action, Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Comite de Inmigrantes en Accion, International Social Organization, Uniendo Fronteras, Catholic Diocese of Providence, New Life Ministry and other organizations.

BROWN: meet at 4:30pm at Faunce on Tuesday.


3)      Call Your Congressmen: Ask them to speak directly with Secretary Chertoff to request that he "Release the Moms." Demand a moratorium on deportations until reform has passed.

Senator Jack Reed  (202) 224-4642
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (202) 224-2921
Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (202) 225-4911
Congressman Jim Langevin (202) 225-2735

4)      Volunteer
If you are or know a lawyer who is willing to take pro-bono cases, or are a mental health professional, preferably a bilingual Spanish speaker, please call MIRA with your name and contact information at 617-350-5480 x212.



SEE: http://www.miracoalition.org/ <https://email.brown.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://email.brown.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.miracoalition.org/>