Celebrating International Workers Day in OAKLAND- May 1st, 2002

Immigrants and Labor Recognize Workers' Contributions by Celebrating International Workers Day on May 1, 2002


(OAKLAND) - A critical mass of working families and immigrants will fill the Oakland Federal Building Plaza in a solidarity celebration joining millions of workers around the world on International Workers Day-May 1, 2002-this Wednesday at 12 pm.

The celebration and rally will project a message of justice for all workers - regardless of citizenship or immigration status - right here in the Bay Area while echoing the demands of workers from Mexico, Korea, the Philippines, Venezuela, Colombia, Japan, Italy and all over the world for global justice in a spiraling world economy.

Congresswomen Barbara Lee is among the distinguished list of invited speakers to demonstrate unity with working families around the world who are calling for true security and safety through the protection of human rights for all workers.

"We want to center the struggles of all working peoples and their families, who are the first to face the desperate impacts of economic declines," said Claudia Gómez Arteaga of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. "Immigrants continue to sustain this country's economy and we must recognize the contributions and the rights of all workers, no matter what their immigration or citizenship status."

The event aims to recognize the contribution and rights of all workers, no matter what their citizenship status may be. This lunchtime event aims to unify workers in the Bay Area such as airport screeners, janitors, service employees, maritime workers and all work forces to proudly regenerate the historic spirit of International Workers' Day, which started in the United States but is no longer officially recognized as a day of celebration for workers as it is in the rest of the world. Especially highlighted will be the demands for defending working communities whose lives have been shaken by a wave of anti-immigrant laws and policies, which have intensified since the 9/11 attacks.

A contingent from this event plans to proceed to an International Workers Day rally in downtown San Francisco later that day at 4 pm at the corner of Montgomery and Market. This rally will protest for peace, food, and housing.

Workers and families and sponsoring organizations include Filipinos for Affirmative Action, Labor Immigrant Organizing Network, Philip Vera Cruz Justice Project, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Filipinos for Global Justice Not War Coalition, SF Immigrant Airport Workers Solidarity Committee, Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition Against War, East Bay Asian Consortium, Labor Committee for Peace and Justice.

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