Media Advisory
April 6, 2005

Contacts:
English & Spanish Media English & Vietnamese Media
Larisa Casillas, SIREN Hong-An Tran, SIREN
408-286-5680, ext. 102 408-286-5680 x 103
415-640-4557 (cell) 510-390-0006 (cell)



Uncovering the Hoax:
Immigrant Leaders Speak Out Against REAL ID Act

Join statewide call to action targeting Feinstein and Boxer



WHAT: Press conference to announce and kick off national days of action against the REAL ID Act, federal legislation that passed the House last month and is pending in the US Senate.



WHERE: In front of the State Building, 100 Paseo de San Antonio (facing the Starbucks and light rail).



WHEN: Thursday, April 7th at 12:00 pm. Rain or shine.



WHO: Immigrants and refugees in Santa Clara County will be separated from their families and face more discrimination due to the color of their skin, religious beliefs and immigration status. Organized by members of VOICES - Voting and Organizing in Immigrant Communities through Education and Support – a project of Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN). Speakers will inform the media and public on how this misguided legislation will harm our communities – immigrants and non-immigrants alike.



Speakers:

VOICES community organizers:

- Samina Faheem Sundas, Executive Director of American Muslim Voice

- Musa Kamara, African Refugee Community Services

- Alejo Ricardez, Member of Local 405

Allies:

- Richard Konda, Executive Director of the Asian Law Alliance

- Sanjeev Bery, San Jose Director, ACLU of Northern California

- Neil Struthers, CEO Santa Clara Building and Construction Trades Council

- CJ Wilson, organizer with the South Bay Labor Council



WHY: The REAL ID Act is mean-spirited and misguided legislation that will hurt our communities. Known for seeking to bar states from issuing undocumented workers drivers’ licenses, this legislation includes other harmful conditions, such as making it more difficult for individuals fleeing religious and/or ethnic persecution to seek asylum in the United States. The Senate will not be debating the REAL ID Act on its own merits, but rather, the Senate is sneaking these proposals through the back door by adding them to funding for tsunami relief and/or increased funding for Iraq.



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