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Mon Apr 16 2007 (Updated 05/01/07) National Day of Protest for Immigrant Rights on May 1st
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Tuesday, May 1st was the first anniversary of the Great Boycott of 2006, in which immigrants led walkouts, boycotts, and protests all over the US. May 1st is the original International Workers' Day, and it has been reclaimed in the last few years to honor immigrants' labor and contributions to the society and economy of the United States. The 2007 national day of action called attention to the "unfinished agenda" of fixing the country’s broken immigration legal system, and insisted on a just and humane immigration reform law that grants full legalization for all people. People protested ICE's increased, militarized raids on families' homes, in which people are captured and held incommunicado, violating their due process of law and causing financial hardship to immigrants' US-born children. The Movement for an Unconditional Amnesty says, "These measures do not serve to stop immigration, but (force) immigrants underground, encouraging black market immigration and (causing) the separation of families."

In San Francisco on May 1st, immigrant and workers’ rights groups gathered at Dolores Park at 12pm for a rally, followed by The Grand March for Unconditional Amnesty to Civic Center at 1pm. Organizers said, "On this day the many contributions to society that the immigrant workers provide [were] highlighted and applauded, and we are reminded that immigrants and workers are one and the same." A Sacramento protest began at 10am at the State Capitol. The Department of Homeland Security held a "public" meeting about the REAL ID Act on the UC Davis campus at 10am. In Oakland, people gathered for an immigrant rights protest at 9am at 100th Ave. and International Blvd. and marched to the Federal Building in downtown Oakland. In Salinas, four marches started at 12pm and came together at the Constitution Blvd. Soccer Complex. At 4pm, people gathered in the Free Speech Area of the Fulton Mall in Fresno for a rally and march. A MayDay march against the migra raids took place in Watsonville, starting at 5:00pm at Watsonville Plaza on Main St. A rally was held at UC Santa Cruz at 1:30pm and was followed by a march to downtown Santa Cruz. There was also a march down Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz at 6:00pm which went to the Vets Hall for songs, stories and films. There were rallies in Modesto on Sunday and Tuesday. The ILWU will stopped working in 6 west coast ports on May 1st, in part to support the Alcatraz ferry workers and their struggle against Hornblower Cruises. Read more

May 1st was also a day of nationwide student walkouts. As part of the walkout, a rally was held on the UC Berkeley campus.

Announcement of SF Action | Anuncio en en español | Revolution Youth's announcement about student walkouts | 5/1: Screening of "Bread and Roses" in Fresno | 5/3 in SF: Screening of "An Injury to One" | Some protests around the US and world | Immigrant Solidarity Network list of US events on MayDay | MayDay2007.org | National May 1st Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights | Workers World: Longshore workers say "All out on May Day" | Indybay's Coverage of MayDay 2006


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