Fotos: Foro de MigraWatch

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:08AM

On Friday, March 30, 2007, César Chávez Day, the MigraWatch Network sponsored a forum on immigration at St Patrick's church in Watsonville. The forum featured guest speakers, a performance by Teatro Campesino, and group discussion of a plans of action for when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) come back to California's Central Coast.

The MigraWatch network was formed after ICE, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, conducted raids in Santa Cruz county on September 7-8, 2006. The sweeps were part of a nation-wide effort to round up people in violation of immigration laws, an effort ICE calls "Operation Return to Sender." During the September raids, 107 people were apprehended in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Hollister. Raids continue to terrorize communities in all corners of the nation.

Locally, the MigraWatch network is working with several organizations to build a safe and welcoming area for all people and to work on resolutions with local government declaring sanctuary for undocumented persons of all nationalities. One important part of the organizing is the MigraWatch Hotline, a partner project with the Resource Center for Nonviolence. The hotline serves as an emergency number to alert volunteers that the Migra are in the neighborhood. Volunteers arrive on the scene to document and provide witness to the actions of ICE.

To learn more about the MigraWatch network visit: http://www.migrawatch.org

§gente

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

I would estimate the crowd, at it's greatest, as 250 people.

§comida

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

There was plenty of food for everyone to enjoy as people filled the auditorium and settled in for the evening.
(photo by Bradley)

§pastores

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

Local clergy members spoke to their own community about the hostile climate for migrants in the United States.

§grupo pequeño

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

After a question and answer session with immigrant rights lawyers and experts, many people lined up to talk to the experts individually outside, while others broke into small groups to discuss why they had decided to attend the evening's forum.

§los niños

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

Childcare was provided so parents could focus on having their documentation questions answered and making a plan for the community.
(photo by Bradley)

§Teatro Campesino, The Hotline

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

Teatro Campesino played a skit where a girls friends are apprehended by ICE. In this scene she has met with a representative of the MigraWatch network and is sharing the information about the hotline with her friends.

§La Migra

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

When the Migra come knocking...

§MigraWatchers

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

As the ICE is banging on their door, the friends call the MigraWatch hotline, MigraWatchers appear with cameras, reporters and lawyers!

§Love America, Impeach Bush

by amanda

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 2:09AM

Her older brother just taught her to make the peace sign with her fingers.

§Not Teatro Campesino

by Ramiro

Mon, Apr 2, 2007 3:31PM

Cool pictures, Amanda. Just one last thing: the theater piece was NOT by Teatro Campesino, but a small group composed of some Teatro Campesino members and other local vat@s: they called themselves Teatro Sin Fronteras (Theater Without Borders).

Thanks!

Fotos: Foro de MigraWatch

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