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Campaign to Stop the Raids!
Build the New United Civil Rights Movement to Fight for Full Rights and Dignity for Immigrants!
We Are All Californians!
BAMN is building and helping to develop an emerging struggle against what is intended to be a continuing campaign of harassment and terror, by immigration authorities, against the Mexican, Latina/o population of California.
The initial wave of roundups was launched by the Border Patrol and carried out predominately in the San Diego, Riverside and San Bernadino County areas. The operations have consisted of detentions and deportations directed almost entirely against Latina/o people, particularly Mexicans. In many cases the operations have been carried out with the cooperation of local police. These raids have no real impact on the levels of illegal immigration - the ostensible reason for the raids. All that they accomplish is the humiliation and terrorizing of all victimized by them. During the first wave of raids, 28 year old Ecar Paz Moradel died in the custody of the Border Patrol. These raids are unacceptable and must stop.
The foundation of the California economy is the labor of immigrants, both documented and undocumented. The designation of some immigrants as "illegal" is a hypocritical cover for the most thoroughgoing exploitation and discrimination. Real equality, for black, Latina/o, Native American, Asian American and other minority people, can be realized in our state only when it transcends the racist practice of denying opportunity to some of its people because they were born in Mexico. California cannot continue to function as a racial caste system protecting white privilege.
Neither the federal nor the California government has the right to harass and victimize immigrants in this way. California cannot continue to lead in bigotry. It must lead toward progress. We are all Californians!
Decisive to defeating these attacks will be a statewide coordinated effort that will encompass various tactics. Among these tactics will be:
- Organizing mass opposition to Border Patrol Raids as they are occurring. Organizing mass protests while a raid is unfolding to say loud and clear: We will not tolerate these racist raids! This will require preplanning, and preparation.
- Organizing to get every city council across California to adopt a resolution to declare non-cooperation with Border Patrol authorities, declaring the city a raid free zone for immigrants. Resolution will be posted soon.
- Immediately following a raid, organizing a march on the nearest Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE or Customs and Border Protection CPB offices to demand an immediate halt to future raids.
- There should be no cooperation of any business, (market, store, or factory) with a raid. Should this occur pickets of the store particular business will be organized.
- Promoting Legal Advice on how to deal with the Border Patrol -- coming soon.
Check www.bamn.com for upcoming events.
BAMN
california@bamn.com
