Coalition Supports Immigration Reform

"Voters sent a clear message for a path to citizenship for all immigrants," said Juan Hernandez of SEIU 32 BJ at a press conference at the state capitol announcing the formation of Connecticut Immigration Reform Alliance.

Hernandez, whose union represents 4,000 immigrant workers, said marches will be held on March 9 in New Haven, Hartford and Danbury, and on April 10 in Hartford and Stamford.

"We pay taxes and work hard for this country. This is an issue of human rights," he said quoting President Obama that this is the time for immigration reform.

A call to stop deportations was also highlighted. Legislators, labor leaders and immigrant workers took the microphone to call for a change of policy that would protect family unity.

"I am innocent," said Josemaria Islas, a factory worker who was mistakenly arrested last July and is now facing deportation. "Stop deportations and separation of families," he exclaimed.

Mike Lawlor, undersecretary to Governor Malloy for criminal justice policy agreed that Islas should not be facing deportation. He said the state changed its policy last year and except for serious offenders, does not honor ICE detainers issued under Secure Communities.

"Secure Communities has made communities less secure," said Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield who is preparing legislation that would close loopholes like the one that allowed Islas to be detained.

State legislation to allow any resident of Connecticut who passes the drivers' exam to get license irregardless of immigration status, and a bill for institutional aid to open college tuition assistance were also supported.

The Connecticut AFL-CIO, which represents 200,000 workers adopted a resolution two weeks earlier calling on Congress to pass common-sense immigration reform that includes a practical and inclusive road map to citizenship and reflects core American values such as fairness, equality and family unity.

“The creation of a road map to citizenship would not only stop employers from continuing to take advantage of our failed immigration policies; it would improve wages and labor standards for all workers by giving immigrant workers a voice on the job.” said president John Olsen.
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Jobs not guns

Standing on the porch with Sherie Miller and her toddler Tramire, who survived a drive-by bullet wound in October, Rev. Scott Marks asked the youth marchers for Love, Jobs and Peace for a moment of silence to remember the many youth killed to gun violence in New Haven. He then asked for a moment of silence for the children who died in the spree shooting in Newtown on December 14.

"There is hope," said Marks, when "young people lead us in a march for justice, for jobs, to have the courage to stand up. Justice is not just for a few. There has to be justice for all."

The youth march from the New Haven Peoples Center to Kensington Street was organized by New Elm City Dream to connect the issue of handgun violence to the need for jobs for youth and everyone.

This was one of two extraordinary Valentine marches against gun violence in Connecticut.

Four days earlier, March for Change attracted 5,500 to the state capitol. The largely suburban crowd came to Hartford on the two-month anniversary of the Newtown killings. Many had never participated in a protest before. Hand-made signs showed anger at the NRA (National Rifle Association) whose president dismissed support for gun safety laws as the post-Newtown "Connecticut effect."

"THIS is the Connecticut effect," said one speaker pointing to the huge crowd, "and we vote."

Organizers hope to "change the conversation, our culture, and our laws." They asked the State Legislature to ban high capacity weapons, require background checks, annual license renewal and safe storage. Speakers and songs emphasized change can be won when people come together and take a stand.

"Let the State of Connecticut become an agent for change for gun safety," declared Veronique Pozner whose son was the youngest to be killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Sen. Chris Murphy's latest report shows that while NRA leadership opposes universal background checks for gun purchasers, 80% of gun owners support this and other "common sense measures to reduce gun violence."

An earlier report revealed the vast sums of money funneled to the NRA from firearms manufacturers, which shapes their lobbying agenda.

Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around

39th Annual African American History Month events hosted by Connecticut Peoples World

Guest speaker Jamie Wilson will highlight the 39th Annual African American History Month Celebration, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around' – Pushing forward for Jobs and Freedom hosted by the Connecticut People's World.

Wilson, author and associate professor of Modern United States and African American History at Salem State University in Massachusetts has a new book coming out this year, "The Civil Rights Movement"

The event marks 150 years since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery and 50 years since the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which led to the signing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

The events will be held on Saturday, February 23 at 6:00 pm in Hartford at La Paloma Sabanera, 405 Capitol Avenue and on Sunday, February 24 at 4:00 pm in New Haven at the Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street

The youth group New Elm City Dream which is leading a march for Love, Jobs and Peace from the Peoples Center the week before to make the connection between the urgency for job creation and ending violence., will greet the celebration.

The call to the celebration states that the large turnout by African American, Latino and youth voters despite attempts at voter suppression "represents a rising determination in the continuing struggle to end inequality, racism and war. Momentum is growing with demands for public investment in jobs, education, youth needs and immigrant rights. "

CT Students for a DREAM will also greet the event in New Haven. These youth are leading the campaign for fair and inclusive immigration reform, inspired by the civil rights movement of the 1960's, and calling for a path to citizenship for all 11 million without documents.

Also in New Haven, prizes will be awarded to participants in the high school arts and writing competition. Drumming will be performed by Brian Jarawa Gray, and songs by Scotticesa Marks. Children's posters drawn on Martin Luther King's birthday at the Peabody Museum on the theme "Because I am free I can...." will be on exhibit.

Both programs will include a light buffet. Tickets are $5 or what you can afford.

A collection will be taken for the 2013 People's World fund drive in Connecticut. The daily on-line publication is available at peoplesworld.org and on Face Book.

For more information call 203-624-8664 or e-mail ct-pww@pobox.com

Raise the Minimum Wage!

A proposal to raise the minimum wage in Connecticut by $1.50 over the next two years to $9.75 was debated before the State Legislature's Labor and Public Employees Committee last week. More than 20 percent of people live in poverty in Connecticut, the richest state. Many are working at minimum wage jobs.

Before the hearing, supporters gathered to announce the Alliance to Make Work Pay, a coalition that will work to increase the minimum wage and ensure it is automatically adjusted to keep up with the cost of living.
Asia Avery, a 20-year-old student and restaurant worker said her minimum wage job makes it hard to meet tuition and car expenses.

“Raising the minimum wage will enable me to earn enough to fund my education, invest in my future, finish school and become a productive member of Connecticut’s workforce, giving back to our economy,” she explained.

The coalition includes businesses like Pixel and Light in Andover, whose owner Jay Kamins said: “as a business owner, it is important to me that our whole economy is doing well. When everyone has money to spend in the local economy, small businesses like mine do well.”

“Increasing Connecticut’s minimum wage makes us more competitive in retaining workers in one of the highest cost-of-living states in the nation,” said Cathy Osten, Senate Chairman of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. “Any minimum wage hike is also plowed right back into the local economy, helping local businesses survive and thrive. It’s a fair and economically sound public policy.”

Opponents of the bill, including the restaurant industry and the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, claim that raising the minimum wage creates a climate that is "not friendly to business." This argument has been used against every pro-worker legislation for decades, although no negative effects have been proven.

Executive Director of Connecticut Working Families Lindsay Farrell said, “Connecticut is the richest state in the richest country, but more and more families are falling in to poverty. We need to raise the minimum wage to combat the most extreme economic inequality in the country.”

People’s World 39^th Annual African American History Month Celebration

'Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around'

PUSHING FORWARD for JOBS and FREEDOM

HARTFORD Saturday, February 23 at 6:00 PM at 405 Capitol Ave

NEW HAVEN Sunday, February 24 at 4:00 PM at 37 Howe St

The 39th Annual African American History Month Celebration, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around' – Pushing forward for Jobs and Freedom takes place 150 years since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery and 50 years since the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which led to the signing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

African American, Latino and youth voters turned out big in 2012, in the face of highly financed attempts to suppress voting rights. The election victory represents a rising determination in the continuing struggle to end inequality, racism and war. Momentum is growing with demands for public investment in jobs, education, youth needs and immigrant rights.

The program will be highlighted by guest speaker Jamie Wilson, author and associate professor of Modern United States and African American History at Salem State University in Massachusetts. His new book "The Civil Rights Movement" will be published this year.

The People's World is hosting the celebrations on Saturday, February 23 at 6:00 pm in Hartford at La Paloma Sabanera, 405 Capitol Avenue and on Sunday, February 24 at 4:00 pm in New Haven at the Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street.

In New Haven, prizes will be awarded to participants in the high school arts and writing competition, addressing the question “What do you see as the next steps to achieve freedom and equality?” [Submissions must be received no later than 5 pm Thursday, February 14, 2013] Drumming will be performed by Brian Jarawa Gray. Children's posters drawn on Martin Luther King's birthday at the Peabody Museum on the theme "Because I am free I can...." will be on exhibit.

Both programs will include a light buffet. Tickets are $5 or what you can afford.

This event opens the 2013 People's World fund drive in Connecticut. Your contribution toward the $2,000 goal for African American History month will keep this valuable publication going.

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Immigration Reform Gets Support

Three days before President Obama addressed immigration, Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Jim Himes pledged their support for comprehensive reform at a community round table in Bridgeport hosted by Connecticut Students for a DREAM.

The "Immigration Reform: The Time is now!" event held at the United Congregational Church was also attended by State Senator Ayala and scores of community leaders and families.

"Telling your personal stories will change minds and you will change hearts," said Himes adding that the entire Connecticut delegation supports "the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship."

The Dreamers emphasized that they will hold all elected officials accountable "not just to push for legislation for undocumented youth, but for all 11 million undocumented immigrants."

They said, "We won’t stop fighting until we win a roadmap to citizenship for all 11 million of us."

Murphy replied that "we're closer than ever to getting this done, because of the political power represented in packed rooms like this all across the country." He also warned against half-measures that create "a subclass of semi-documented immigrants."

Alberto Bernardez of SEIU 32BJ emphasized that comprehensive reform helps the whole economy. "We will get rid of the underground economy that drags everybody down," he said.

Sen. Blumenthal pledged to "continue working for a strong bi-partisan comprehensive immigration reform plan including the Dream Act with the support of groups like Connecticut Students for a DREAM."

Requesting that Blumenthal intervene to stop his deportation, Josemaria Islas, told how he had been wrongfully arrested during a lunch break from work in Hamden, but after being acquitted was apprehended and detained by ICE under the federal Secure Communities.

"Josemaria has never been in trouble with the law. For eight years, he held a steady job and supported his family. ICE still wants to depart him," said John Jairo Lugo of Unidad Latina en Accion. The case has attracted widespread support.

Connecticut Students for a DREAM thanked everyone for participating and concluded, "Connecticut CAN provide leadership on immigration reform and if we work together, it CAN happen this year,"