May Day Rally at UC Santa Cruz Demands Rights for Immigrants, Workers and Students

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

The Movement for Immigrant Rights Alliance (M.I.R.A.) is a coalition of UC Santa Cruz students, community members, and diverse organizations working together to build a unified voice for people with migrant backgrounds, particularly those labeled undocumented. M.I.R.A. aims to raise public awareness about the rights and living conditions of immigrants who are continuously attacked and dehumanized by corporate media and public policy. Through dialogue, action, and reflection, M.I.R.A. strives to create a movement for human rights that transcends man-made borders.

M.I.R.A. called for a rally at UCSC and march to Santa Cruz on May 1st, May Day, to demand

DREAM Act be passed in U.S. now
Stop the ICE raids now
The construction of a day laborer center in Santa Cruz now
Fair contract for AFSCME workers now
End the militarization of borders now

How Does It Feel?

- by Pedro Espinosa

How does it feel to be an AB 540 student?
It feels heavy
So what do I mean?
I walk around campus with books on my hands and my class schedule on my mind. I’m a UCSC student. But its not just that…
When I'm in a classroom full of 40 students and we are analyzing the effects of US intervention and immigration I feel very alienated
They are talking about me, I am talking about me.
So you still don’t understand?
Well think about it this way…
Everybody can climb up a hill, no matter how long it takes or what method you use,
Piece of cake right?
Wrong!! It's not that easy for some, it's not that easy for me…
I have to climb that heavy hill wearing a backpack full of bricks.
Get my analogy?
That hill represents my education!
But it seems that every step I make on the hill DRAINS me as a human being.
I feel like I'm wearing myself out!
Heavy really heavy. On my shoulders, on my neck on my mind.
But that’s not going to stop me.
Even if I have to crawl and drag myself to get on top of that hill, I will!

* This monologue was written by Pedro Espinosa and performed on May 1st (May Day), 2008, in the Bay Tree Plaza at UC Santa Cruz.

§Paul Ortiz

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Bay Tree Plaza

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Hector

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Derecho a Estudiar y Soñar

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

The Right to Study and Dream

§Yolanda

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§May Day Demands

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Si Se Puede

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§How Does It Feel?

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

Pedro Espinosa performs a monologue he wrote called "How Does It Feel?"

§Students Informing Now (S.I.N.)

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

S.I.N. Vergüenza
Without Shame

§Yolanda and Univision

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univision

§Picket

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§El pueblo unido jamás será vencido

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

The people united will never be defeated

§Worker Solidarity

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Fired Up

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Anarchy On Trial

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

An anarchist celebration of May Day

In 1887 four Chicago anarchists were executed. A fifth cheated the hangman by killing himself in prison. Three more were to spend 6 years in prison until pardoned by Governor Altgeld who said the trial that convicted them was characterized by "hysteria, packed juries and a biased judge". The state had, in the words of the prosecution put "Anarchy .. on trial" and hoped their deaths would also be the death of the anarchist idea.

The anarchists were trade union organizers and May Day became an international workers day to remember their sacrifice. They were framed on false charges of throwing a bomb at police breaking up a demonstration in Chicago. This was part of a strike demanding an 8 hour day involving 400,000 workers in Chicago that started May 1st 1886.

The anarchist idea did not die in Chicago in 1887. Today it inspires a new wave of struggle against global capitalism.
http://struggle.ws/about/mayday.html

Here's a PDF of the flyer:
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2007/04/27/mayleaf.pdf

§Stop All Deportations Now!

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§Primero de Mayo, UC Santa Cruz

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§en la lucha

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

§AFSCME

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:39PM

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299
http://afscme3299.org

§Drum Section

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:43PM

§Stand Up Fight Back

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:43PM

§Trucker Solidarity

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 1:47PM

Students raise their fist in response to the loud and supportive air horn blast by a trucker driver idling his engine as the march neared the base of the UCSC campus.

§May Day March from UCSC to San Lorenzo Park Is Re-Routed to Beach Flats

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 3, 2008 4:10PM

PLEASE SEE THE SECOND SERIES OF PHOTOS AT:

May Day March from UCSC to San Lorenzo Park Is Re-Routed to Beach Flats
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/03/18496606.php

May Day Rally at UC Santa Cruz Demands Rights for Immigrants, Workers and Students

How Does It Feel?

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