Feature Archives

81-year old Joseph Dantica came to the United States as an asylum seeker, but he found only suffering and the peace of death. He arrived in Miami on October 29th, was held overnight in Miami International Airport, then was placed in detention at Krome North. He was isolated from his family, friends and legal help. He was pronounced dead on Nov. 3. After facing what the National Coalition for Haitian Rights calls "Immigration bureaucracy that from the top down has been hostile to Haitians' claims of fear of persecution," Joseph Dantica died. He had been a frequent visitor to the US since the 1970's, and maintained a close relationship with his famous niece, the celebrated Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat.

Jocelyn McCalla, the Executive Director of the NCHR says, "We call on the Justice Department to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the tragic death of Mr. Dantica...we urge a review and overhaul of the policy that singles out Haitian refugees and immigrants for discriminatory treatment. Cuban asylum-seekers can walk away happily after applying for asylum whereas Haitians are held behind bars. For the fifth time since 1999, the US government has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Nicaraguans and Hondurans because of the earthquake damage in their countries since then. Yet it has repeatedly denied TPS to Haitians whose country undoubtedly meets the conditions for such considerations: ongoing armed conflict and environmental disaster. Haitian asylum-seekers deserve to be treated fairly and equitably. Non-immigrant Haitians in the US should be granted TPS."

Amnesty International's Page About Joseph Dantica urges people to call for an investigation into the circumstances of Rev. Dantica’s death, and ask for clarification of the Department of Homeland Security’s policy regarding release of asylum seekers with no criminal background.

National Coalition for Haitian Rights | Human Rights First | Beatrice.com | More of Rev. Dantica's story | Haitian American Grassroots Coalition | Info about "Operation Able Sentry" | TransAfricaForum | Haiti news page

November, 2004: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors placed Proposition F on the ballot as a City Charter Amendment for the November, 2004 election. It would have made it possible for all parents 18 years of age or older whose children are in San Francisco Unified School District to participate in School Board elections. The measure was defeated by fewer than 10,000 votes, 51.44% to 48.56%.

As an educational pilot, the law would have been in effect for only two elections, and would then have sunset. The Board of Supervisors could then re-evaluate the process, and would have to vote again to extend the law to future elections. Proponents said that approximately 30% of San Francisco’s public school students (about 17,000 children) are from immigrant households. Proposition F would have ensured that San that the school board truly represents the city's communities and its needs. The measure was supported by A Voice for All Parents | Video of Campaign Launch | SF Board of Education Statement in Support of Measure F | Spartacist League Post in Support of Measure F | Analysis

11/19/2004: A campaign has started to amend the US Constitution so immigrants can run for President. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is currently Governor of the state of California, has said for decades that he wants to amend the Constitution so he can be President. Schwarzenegger is a naturalized citizen who was born in Austria. Now, Congressman Dana Rohrbacher, Senator Orin Hatch and others have introduced legislation known in Congress as "Arnold Bills" to give Schwarzenegger what he wants. The two bills before Congress are: the "Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment,"sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, D-Calif., and Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., in July of 2003, which states that foreign-born citizens could become president after claiming U.S. residence for 20 years, and an amendment proposed by Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., would stipulate 35 years. Hatch's October 4, 2004 Statement
A national movement has started to stop Arnold Schwarzenegger from becoming president of the United States. According to Americans Against Arnold, Schwarzenegger has publicly stated that he has dreamed of being a dictator. Americans Against Arnold is strongly opposed to amending Article 2, Clause 5 of the US Constitution that bars the foreign-born from seeking the Presidency. AAA founder Alex Jones says, "Arnold's already running for President. His operatives have been dominating the airwaves, despite the fact that in major polls 80+ percent of Americans don't want to change the Constitution so he can be President." More
Amend for US has started an agressive PR campaign, including television ads, about the Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment. Their website includes the name "Jen," which refers to Jennifer Mulhern Granholm who is governor of the state of Michigan and is a naturalized citizen who was born in Canada. It is also thought that Madeleine Albright is a potential presidential candidate. Neither of these two women has the kind of name recognition that is commanded by Schwarzenegger, who is a world-famous "actor."

A Mexican Response to Schwarzenegger

12/12/2003: On Friday, Latino workers statewide went on strike and boycotted state businesses in protest over Governor Schwarzenegger's repeal of SB 60. SB 60, would have gaven ‘undocumented immigrants’ the right to a driver's license. It was passed by Gray Davis in an attempt to gather support late in the recall campaign. When Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor, he quickly repealed the law.
The Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) has created SAVE SB 60 / Citizens for Public and Passenger Safety to stop the political right-wing of California from repealing SB60, and continuing their attacks against Latinos and all immigrants.

Thousands of workers and students statewide took part in the protest.

• At several public schools in San Francisco, as many "as 60 percent of students stayed" home.
• In Oakland, "dozens of stores along International Boulevard shut down in support of the strike".
• More than 400 people marched through the streets of Redwood City in protest.
• Many businesses in Gilroy and Turlock were shut down.
• In Orange County, protesters occupied the office of Republican State Assemblyman Ken Maddox.
• In Watsonville, hundreds of people gathered for a rally at the Main Street Plaza (1 2).
• In Santa Cruz, demonstrators at the town clock got a great response from people driving or walking by. Horn honking and waving was greeted every time by accordian music, singing, shouting, sign waving, and chants of ‘Si Se Puede!’.

More Coverage from LA Indymedia and Santa Cruz Indymedia .

8/01/04: The United Farm Workers union held a march in Fresno today. Over 400 union members and their allies protested the intimidation of farm workers through immigration raids and called for support of the AgJobs bill which will allow undocumented field laborers to earn permanent legal status. The march, the first held by the UFW in Fresno for many years, is an indication of the unions interest in having a greater presence in this area.

7/22/04: Palestinian freedom fighter Farouk Abdel-Muhti, died Wednesday, apparently of a heart attack. He was 56 years old.

Abdel-Muhti was giving a talk in Philadelphia and immediately afterwards rested his head on the table in front of him. “I think we all thought he was just resting,” said Jamal Hannah who was in the audience. But when he fell off his chair, his fiancée, Sharin, dropped her video camera and ran onto the stage in panic. Soon afterwards, he was taken away in an ambulance and died in the hospital a little later.

Farouk Abdel-Muhti was released from jail on April 12, 2004 after being held for two years without charge by U.S. immigration officials. He was frequently held in solitary confinement, subjected to extensive interrogation, and sometimes denied food. His supporters considered him to be a political prisoner.

As a Palestinian who came to the U.S. four decades ago, Abdel-Muhti argued he was "stateless" and had no country to which he could have been deported. He was a former producer of the program "Wake Up Call" on the radio station WBAI in New York City.

Watch or listen to Farouk's last words or hear his son and fiancee talk about his life on Democracy Now!.

Listen to Democracy Now’s interview with Farouk the day after his release, only three months ago.

Read Farouk’s statement on “Israeli Massacres and Seige in Rafah."


Audio Interview with Farouk Abdel-Muhti - UNDER ATTACK: Arab, Muslim & South Asian Communities
Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti | Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants

7/21/04: The United Farm Workers union is organizing a march in Fresno to protest immigration raids and intimidation and boost public support for the AgJobs bill that would allow undocumented field laborers to earn permanent legal status. Several similar UFW-led marches and rallies have taken place this month in the Salinas and Central valleys and in Ventura County. The march will take place Sunday, August 1,starting at 11 AM at the Sal Mosqueda center (Maple & Butler) and finish at Holmes Park (First and Huntington). For more information call (559) 352-0548. Photo: © Jocelyn Sherman