(02.17.2012 Los Angeles, CA) Hundreds of immigrant day laborers from 14 different states will convene in Los Angeles beginning Sunday for the 10th anniversary and sixth national assembly of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, a national federation of 43 organizations working to advance the rights of immigrant workers.
Day laborers from across the country will gather to take stock of their accomplishments from the past two years; fighting against Arizona and Georgia’s anti-immigrant laws, leading the charge against the dangerous Se Communities deportation program, and expanding efforts to end wage theft and unsafe workplaces. During the summit next week in Los Angeles, day laborers will reflect upon the challenges ahead and set forth an affirmative agenda for the coming year.
This will be the first time the assembly is held in Los Angeles, home to the largest population of day laborers and the longest-running workers’ centers in the country.
“Day laborers have been under intense attack in recent years,” explains NDLON Director Pablo Alvarado. “Yet, when day laborers work to advance our rights, we advance the rights for all. We have advanced too far as a community and as a nation to allow hateful politics to turn us back now.”
Keynote speeches will include AFL-CIO President Trumka and TV Host Tavis Smiley, a film screening of A Better Life to be attended by its director, Chris Weitz, and actor, Jose Julian, and a major mobilization to protest the deportation policies of Los Angeles Sheriff Baca and to promote the newly introduced state bill, the TRUST Act.
Various media events are planned throughout the weeklong convention.
Conference Media Events
SUNDAY 2/19
02/19 7:00pm
Opening Plenary and Presentation of Delegates
Monday 2/20
9:00am
Opening Keynote: Tom Saenz, President of MALDEF
9:45am
Keynote: Raymond Pocino, LIUNA
7:30pm
Screening of Oscar-recognized, A Better Life, with director Chris Weitz and actor Jose Julian
Tuesday 2/21
9:00am
Keynote: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
9:30am
Keynote: Tavis Smiley, Television Host and Author
7:30pm
Cultural Night and Concert by Los Jornaleros del Norte
Wednesday 2/22
9:00am
Keynote: Maria Elena Durazo, Secretary Treasurer LA AFL-CIO
5:00 – 7:00pm
Rally Against Sheriff Baca’s Se Communities Deportation Program at County Board of Supervisors and March to Federal Building
Thursday 2/23
8:30am
Keynote: Kent Wong, UCLA
NDLON’s mission is to strengthen and expand the work of local day laborer organizing groups, in order to become more effective and strategic in building leadership, advancing low-wage worker and immigrant rights, and developing successful models for organizing immigrant contingent/temporary workers. NDLON fosters healthy, safer and more humane environments for day laborers to obtain employment and raise their families. In this sense, NDLON advances the human, labor, and civil rights of day workers throughout the United States.
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