PETITION TO WIN THE RIGHT OF UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS TO RECEIVE STATE FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE Demand that Gov. Schwarzenegger Sign the Dream Act! **Forward Widely!** [You don't need to live in California to sign this petition.] We can get California Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the Dream Act, and we can win the right of undocumented students to receive state financial aid for college, IF WE ACT NOW. Do the following: 1. Sign the petition online, and forward this email to EVERYONE you know afterwards. The petition is at http://www.bamn.com/dreamactpetition-ca.asp 2. Download and print the petition to circulate at your school, workplace, church, and community. This is a great way to educate others about the Dream Act and taking action on Oct. 4th. It is also a way to get your school and community organized by gathering contact information. The downloadable petition is also available at http://www.bamn.com/dreamactpetition-ca.asp 3. Join the statewide march in Sacramento Thursday, Oct. 4th! For more information and to get transportation, go to http://www.bamn.com/DreamAct ============================= HERE IS THE PETITION TEXT: ***Win the Right of Undocumented Students to Receive State Financial Aid to Attend College! ***Demand that Governor Schwarzenegger Sign the DREAM Act Now! On September 11, 2007, both houses of the California State Assembly overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 1 (SB1), the California DREAM Act, placing the bill before Governor Schwarzenegger to sign it by October 10, 2007. If signed, the California DREAM Act would give Latina/o and other immigrant students who are undocumented the same right as all other high school graduates in California to obtain need-based state financial aid and scholarships for college. Last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed the DREAM Act, acknowledging that state universities and community colleges can’t discriminate against undocumented students but in action, supporting discrimination against immigrant students in the financial aid process. Undocumented immigrants pay billions in state taxes. Undocumented students deserve the same right as every other student in California to apply for and receive state financial aid for college. The racist opponents of the DREAM Act are prepared to sacrifice the social and economic progress of the state of California in order to defend white privilege and maintain a second-class status for immigrant, Latina/o, black, Asian, and other minority students. California is ranked forty-ninth in terms of the percentage of high school graduates that go on to college. A growing majority of California high school graduates are Latina/o, black, Native American, and Asian. These students must be given the same right and opportunity to attend college if California is to progress and prosper. THEREFORE, WE THE UNDERSIGNED: Demand that Governor Schwarzenegger sign the DREAM Act before or on October 10, 2007. Declare that Latina/o, black, Arab, Asian, white and immigrant people with and without papers – WE ARE ALL CALIFORNIANS, and we’re entitled to equal opportunities to realize all of our hopes and aspirations. ============================= Sign the petition at http://www.bamn.com/dreamactpetition-ca.asp Circulate this Petition Far and Wide! ====================================================== Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) BAMN.com Myspace.com/nationalbamn Myspace.com/chavezdayofaction Donate to the new civil rights movement! Send a tax-deductible donation and send a check payable to “UEAALDF” to:     UEAALDF, c/o BAMN     P.O. Box 12872     Berkeley, CA 94712 Northern CA, Oregon, Washington contact:     Yvette Felarca 510-502-9072  yfelarca@gmail.com Southern CA contact:      Hoku Jeffrey   323.317.7675  hoku@bamn.com