BAMN Update - Oct. 10, 2007

Countdown to Governor’s Deadline to Sign the CA Dream Act!

Congratulations to all the people who’ve supported the right of undocumented students to get state financial aid in California. The momentum of our movement is making a big impact, not only in Sacramento, but also on the national level. The anger and determination of the hundreds of students who walked out of school, drove through the night, rode buses, and marched at the State Capitol on Oct. 4 was inspiring and infectious. Our march at UC Berkeley on Oct. 8 got front page coverage in the Daily Cal and was the top story in 3 Bay Area TV stations with favorable coverage. (See the links below.)

We’ve also succeeded in getting presidential candidate Barack Obama to publicly call upon Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the California Dream Act into law. It is unusual for a presidential candidate to take a stand on a state policy. Our movement is shifting the political ground rapidly in our favor. We’re breaking up the recalcitrant silence of the Democratic Party politicians - all thanks to the strength and popularity of this growing new civil rights movement.

Sign the online petition, forward it to everyone you know, and download a copy to get others to sign it, too! We’re submitting hard copies to the Governor’s representatives in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles on Wednesday. Call the Governor’s office directly 916-445-2841 and fax petitions directly to 916-445-4633. The deadline is Sunday, Oct. 14, so get your calls and petitions in right away! After you fax them, get in touch with us so that we can get your originals and include them in the rest of the ones that we’ve collected.

BAMN is committed to continuing this struggle at the state and federal level even beyond the deadline, because we will not rest until we’ve abolished the new Jim Crow of legalized discrimination that too many undocumented immigrants in California struggle against. We are already getting greater opportunities to shift the political discussion in the direction of equality – this Thursday, BAMN will debate the California Dream Act on "Forum," the award-winning nationally-syndicated NPR program hosted by Michael Krasny, this Thursday at 9-10AM (Pacific Time). (More info below.)

If you haven’t yet, join BAMN! And come to our next meeting on Monday at 6:30 pm in Dwinelle Hall Rm. 219 at UC-Berkeley.

NEWS COVERAGE

CBS 13 story with live coverage of the Capitol rally, before our march arrived...

ABC 30 TV story on Oct. 4th:

Daily Cal (UC-Berkeley's student paper) story on UC-Berkeley rally Oct. 8th:

Barack Obama urges Schwarzenegger to sign the CA Dream Act (AP article)

Listen to BAMN Debate the Dream Act on NPR's "Forum"!

BAMN National Spokesperson Shanta Driver debated against Rick Oltman of Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) on "Forum", the nationally-syndicated award-winning NPR program. You can listen to the show archive (or download the podcast) at:

Return to the Dream Act Page