El Gran Paro Americano 2006/The Great American Boycott 2006

Wednesday, April 19th
7:30 p.m.
179 Dwinelle Hall
UC Berkeley Campus


No to racism! Yes to human rights!
Amnesty, demilitarization of the border, citizenship for all immigrants!
Justice and dignity for all workers!



The first meeting of the Berkeley May 1st Mobilization Committee was a huge success, with nearly 70 people representing unions, student groups, and community members in attendance. The group voted overwhelmingly to call a student and worker walkout for May 1st at UC Berkeley, with a rally and possible action to present our demands to the University.

With just over two weeks left before May 1st, we need your help to see this powerful movement continue to grow. There is still much work to be done in preparation for this exciting day, and we need every concerned member of the Berkeley community to help plan the events and get the word out. We had hundreds of people rally on Sproul Plaza for immigrants' rights on April 10th -- the first major college demonstration in the country in opposition to the racist attack on immigrants. Join us to get thousands out for May 1st!

Background:

This May 1st, people across the country will participate in the Great American Boycott 2006, 'A Day Without an Immigrant,' called by the 'March 25th Coalition Against HR 4437' in Los Angeles. Berkeley students and community members concerned with rights for all workers in this country, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, have formed the May 1st Mobilization Committee to plan actions at Berkeley in support of the boycott. Come bring your ideas for how to build on the victory against HR 4437 and win real rights and dignity for undocumented workers.

The past few weeks have seen millions of people take to the streets to demand their rights. This burgeoning new movement has seen the defeat of the reactionary HR 4437 legislation -- which would have made felons of both undocumented workers and anyone who helped them -- but this is just the first step. We still have much work to do in building a movement to secure real rights for every worker in this country.

Many of those who work at UC Berkeley and in the surrounding community are immigrants who deserve to be treated with respect. In addition, we all have a common interest in beating back U.S. racism and xenophobia -- from the Middle East to Latin America to here at home. Please join us to get involved in this historic movement!

Both individuals and representatives of organizations encouraged to attend.

For more information, please email michael.smith3 [at] gmail.com or call 415.272.5049.