The Sacramento BeeEnd ICE’s hold on law enforcement agenciesApril 13, 2012By Julia Harumi Mass By giving officers an incentive to arrest “foreign-looking” individuals for minor infractions or no reason at all, S-Comm undermines the Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection and encourages racial profiling. La OpinionCalifornia No Es Arizonapor Hector Villagra y Pablo…
DetailsRev. Jesse Jackson: The Moral Obligation to Sign the TRUST Act
Los Angeles – Hundreds of Californians from throughout the state will hold a major rally in Los Angeles September 29, 2012, urging Governor Jerry Brown to sign two measures that would expand basic protections to long-struggling workers and protect Californians from family-shattering deportations. Each proposal would create a national model for powerful, progressive policy.
It is a matter of leadership, vision, and state pride, say supporters of the two bills. The California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (AB 889 – Ammiano) would end the outdated exclusion of domestic workers from basic labor protections by extending rights such as overtime pay and meal and rest breaks to the caregivers, childcare providers, and housecleaners caring for California’s families and homes. The TRUST Act (AB 1081 – Ammiano) would bring relief to families who fear deportation as a result of the most trivial of arrests, and rebuild confidence in law enforcement. The bill prevents the costly detention of aspiring citizens in local jails for deportation purposes, only allowing immigration “holds” for those charged or convicted of a serious or violent felony.
Critics of Arizona’s controversial immigration law are on alert. This week, a federal judge gave the state the go-ahead to enforce the “show me your papers” provision of the law. Now some undocumented immigrants are being taught how to respond. As night falls on a Mesa, Arizona park, worried families, many of them undocumented immigrants, are instructed on what to say if questioned by police. Instructor: “You want a lawyer?” Woman: “Yes.” Civil rights groups are also teaching people how to use cell phones to record video if stopped by the police. The training session was a response to Arizona’s law that took effect this week. It allows police to investigate the immigration status of anyone they stop, giving rise to fears of racial profiling. Defenders of the law say police will not use race when deciding whom to question about immigration status.
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Written by Jessica Acee, Board member of the Workers Justice Project.
A vigil was held September 25th for Winston Gillette, a construction worker killed 2 weeks ago when the roof of the building he was working on caved in on him. That building, located at 227 Carlton Ave in Brooklyn’s Fort Green neighborhood, was under construction by Professional Grade Construction company. To date, the company has not issued an apology.