|
Comment on this article |
View comments |
Email this Article
|
|
Announcement :: Human Rights |
|
BC Students Support Immigrants |
|
by cuauhtémoc
(No verified email address) |
25 Apr 2006
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2006
Boston College Students Show Solidarity with Immigrants
By: The Boston College May Day Coalition
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts — Students, Faculty and Student Organizations have formed the Boston College May Day Coalition (BCMDC) in support of the nationwide movement for immigrant rights.
The BCMDC seeks support from all individuals: students, faculty, and staff alike. Expressly, we encourage everyone in the Boston College community to:
a. Boycott class or work on May 1
b. Refrain from making any purchases throughout the day
c. Express solidarity with the movement by wearing white shirts or white ribbons
d. Endorse our campaign, whether as an individual or as an organization by spreading the word to all your friends, classmates, professors, and organizations
e. Join us on O’Neill plaza at 11:30 a.m., and continue to Harvard for an organized rally at 1:30 p.m., followed by a march to the State House for a statewide rally.
BCMDC’s platform is rooted in a desire to work for social justice and equality. Those in the Boston College community committed to the same ideals need a coalition to express their solidarity with society’s marginalized communities. Our aim is to raise awareness among students and faculty of the immigrant rights movement. Only then will our elected officials address the unfair treatment of immigrants.
Our concrete goals are to:
1) Create a dialogue to raise campus awareness of the country’s unjust immigration policy; and
2) Express solidarity with immigrants who suffer oppression under U.S. immigration policy.
In anticipation of the general boycott scheduled for May 1, and in an effort to expand dialogue and understanding about this critical issue, student leaders have scheduled the following events and activities:
1. An immigration roundtable discussion with experts and civic leaders on April 26, 2006, at Boston College Law School.
2. A white ribbon campaign on May 1, 2006, to express support for and solidarity with all immigrants.
3. In interfaith religious service on May 1, 2006, at Boston College Law School.
4. A letter-writing campaign to urge Congress to pass sensible legislation that does not criminalize undocumented workers and honors the contributions that all immigrants make to the United States.
5. An undergraduate vigil scheduled for May 1st at noon on O’Neill plaza, followed by participation in the Harvard University rally and a march to the State House to attend the MIRA Coalition press conference and statewide rally.
The Boston College May Day Coalition is also part of the larger Boston Student May Day Coalition, which will convene and march, for the first time as a unified organization, at the Harvard University walkout on May 1.
List of Endorsers:
Organization of Latin-American Affairs
Asian Caucus
South East Asian Students Association
Chinese Students' Association
Philippine Society of BC
UGBC President-Elect Santiago Bunce
JUSTICE
Global Justice Project (pending)
BC Sociology Department (pending)
College Democrats (pending)
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Leadership Council
4Boston Leadership Council
BC Latin American Law Students Association
BC Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
BC Black Law Students Association
BC Third World Law Journal
BC Law Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
BC Law St. Thomas More Society
Community Economic Development Law Group
Grad. School of Social Work Student Collective
Environmental Law Society
International Law Society
Jewish Law Society
Harvard May Day Coalition
Northeastern May Day Coalition
The Executive Board of the Asian Community at Tufts
Boston May Day Coalition
(Partial List as of 12:30 pm, 25 April 2006) |
This work is in the public domain |
Please Don't Feed the Trolls
Wikipedia defines an Internet Troll as: "An Internet troll is either a person who sends messages on the Internet hoping to entice other users into angry or fruitless responses, or a message sent by such a person." Boston IMC strives to provide both a grassroots media resource as well as a forum for people to contribute to a meaningful discussion about local issues. Please, when posting comments, be respectful of others and ignore those trying to interrupt or discourage meaningful discourse. Thank you.
-- Boston Indymedia volunteers
Add a CommentDue to on going anti spam work quick comments are currently broken please use the full comment form. We do hope to have quick comments back on line soon. Comments
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by soli
(No verified email address) |
25 Apr 2006
|
|
fantastic work people, good to see the students are coming out so strong for this important day. i think it's better to participate and bring as many voices as possible to the rally on the common instead of allowing it to be hijacked by opportunistic groups who have not been doing the grassroots work in immigrant communities which has built this powerful movement. there are many local events like in somerville and the march from ease boston to chelsea but this event on the common is going to attract a lot of people from around the area. let's give it our support and let the haters in this corrupt government know how strong the voice is for a big change in the country. |
|
Fairy Dust on the Parade |
by Sexy Sachez
(No verified email address) |
25 Apr 2006
|
ooh yes. a parade!
Gay Lesbian Hispanic Rights Coaltion |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by question
(No verified email address) |
25 Apr 2006
|
|
who is calling this rally on the common? is it the groups which have been organizing the previous rallies or some other people? and what time does the rally on the common begin? |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Rockhead
(No verified email address) |
25 Apr 2006
|
|
How does missing class advance the cause in Congress? |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by brad
(No verified email address) |
26 Apr 2006
|
|
By impressing on everyone the extent of solidarity within all spheres of society. By making everyones lives altered for just one day, and therefore imparting the message of labor rights into a historically significant event. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Rockhead
(No verified email address) |
27 Apr 2006
|
|
If anyone at BC is online here, the class boycott means nothing unless you followup with ongoing labor support activities. that would be a great thing if this were a kickoff to an ongoing labor support group at BC. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by BC Student
(No verified email address) |
27 Apr 2006
|
|
I don't plan on supporting the boycott. In fact, I plan on supporting businesses that stay open. I am encouraging my friends to do the same. I support immigrants but I do not support illegal aliens. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Anothe BC Student
(No verified email address) |
27 Apr 2006
|
|
Yes, we support immigrants, but not illegal aliens who steal jobs from American workers. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Hungry BC Student
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
I eat immigrants with hot sauce. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by @
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
I support those that enter my country legally but not those that are here to suck up free benefits and increase our crime levels! |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by brad
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
Here is a study by Robert J. Samson of Harvard that actually shows that the greater the immigration the lower the crime. http://wjh.harvard.edu/soc/news.html
There are many more also to back that one up. As for immigrants "stealing jobs", its called a labor market. I am right with you that it should be done away with. People should not have to sell themselves like commodities in order to eat. But, using race and natinality to privlege one person over another is unconstitutional. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Brad
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
How do undocumented immigrants get social services? Turn of Fox news folks. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by @
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
STFU! |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Naked BC student
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
I support all immigrants. Now can someone give back my clothes? |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Backward but pro-immigrant BC student
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
.stnargimmi troppus I |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by BC student with a sore throat
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
Does anyone have a cough drop? |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by CB student
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
Breaker one nine, breaker one nine. What's your 10-20, good buddy? Over and out. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by BC student who likes llamas
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
I like llamas. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by @
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
No no no...that's pronounced Yammas! |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by BC Alumnus
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2006
|
|
I love immigrants. Immigrants are now and always have been the backbone of American society. I hate illegal aliens because I hate all criminals. |
|
WHAT THE POLLS SAY |
by @
(No verified email address) |
29 Apr 2006
|
By eight-to-one, Americans think it is unfair to grant rights to illegal immigrants while thousands of people wait each year to come to the United States legally. Fully eighty-six percent of Republicans think it is unfair, as do seventy-seven percent of Democrats.
Opinion Dynamics Poll for FOX News, April 4-5, 2006
Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay significantly higher prices for some goods and services should that be the result of tighter control of the southern U.S. border and a resulting lower number of undocumented workers.
Zogby Poll, March 31-April 3, 2006
Fifty-six percent of Americans polled say the U.S. should NOT grant temporary-worker status to foreigners who are here illegally, as this would make them and their families eligible for government services while they are here. We should not reward people who have broken the law, and this will encourage even more people to enter the United States illegally.
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, March 10-13, 2006
Fifty-three percent of Americans oppose President Bush's guest worker-amnesty plan for illegal aliens from Mexico.
Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News poll, April, 2005
Fourteen percent of Americans "strongly favor" President Bush's proposal to allow foreigners who have jobs but are staying illegally in the United States to apply for legal, temporary-worker status.
Angus Reid Global Scan, April 2005
Two-thirds of likely voters in Florida oppose a plan to allow some illegal aliens to live and work legally in the U.S.
Research 2000 Florida Poll, March, 2005
72 percent of Mexican migrants said the would participate in a program that offered the prospect amnesty for illegal aliens who lived here for five years, continued working and had no problems with legal authorities. Respondents who said they had no U.S.-issued ID were even more positive (79 percent).
Pew Hispanic Center survey of Mexican migrants, March 2005
Fifty-seven percent of respondents oppose a program in which illegal aliens would be allowed to live and work legally in the United States.
Westhill Partners/Hotline Poll, February, 2005
Sixty-eight percent of Texans say the federal government shoud not make it easier for illegal aliens to obtain U.S. citizenship.
Scripps Howard Texas Poll, March 2004
Fifty-six percent of adults say they'd oppose a program in which illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico would be allowed to live and work legally in the United States.
Gallup Poll, Feb. 9-12, 2004
No issue upset the public more than President Bush' amnesty/guestworker proposals, with only one-third of Americans supporting him on that.
CBS News/New York Times Poll, January 2004
Seventy-four percent of resondents believe the U.S. should NOT make it easier for illegal aliens to become citizens of the U.S.
CNN/Gallup/USA Today Poll, January 2004
Fifty-two percent of Americans oppose President Bush's guest worker-amnesty program for illegal aliens from Mexico; 57 percent oppose such a program for illegal aliens from other countries. Furthermore, at least twice as many Americans strongly oppose the proposal as strongly support it.
ABC News Poll, January, 2004
Americans, 2 to 1, oppose granting amnesty to illegal aliens.
Zogby Poll, June 2002
Americans oppose amnesty, nearly 2 to 1. Hispanics are less likely to vote to reelect Pres. Bush if he supports amnesty.
Zogby Poll, September 2001
Nearly 70 percent of Americans oppose amnesty for illegal aliens.
Gallup Poll, August 2001 national poll of 1,000 adults
61 percent of Americans oppose granting amnesty to illegal aliens.
Harris poll, August, 2001 |
|
Less Fox News polls=more accuracy |
by brad
(No verified email address) |
29 Apr 2006
|
Oh no were not..All of your polls are what are called "push polls" and include the word amnesty, which no one is talking about.
USA Today/Gallup Poll. April 7-9, 2006. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
"Thinking now about immigrants -- that is, people who come from other countries to live here in the United States: In your view, should immigration be kept at its present level, increased or decreased?" Only 47% said decreased, while 50% said increased or remain the same.
"Which comes closest to your view about what government policy should be toward illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States? Should the government deport all illegal immigrants back to their home country, allow illegal immigrants to remain in the United States in order to work but only for a limited amount of time, or allow illegal immigrants to remain in the United States and become U.S. citizens but only if they meet certain requirements over a period of time?"
18% responded depot and 80% responded stay for limited or extended time.
CBS News Poll. April 6-9, 2006. N=899 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).
"Do you think illegal immigrants coming to this country today take jobs away from American citizens, or do they mostly take jobs Americans don't want?" N=464 (Form D)
34% responded to take jobs away while 53% responded take jobs Americans don't want.
"Would you favor or oppose allowing illegal immigrants who have done the following to stay and work in the United States: paid a fine, been in the U.S. for at least five years, paid any back taxes they owe, can speak English, and have no criminal record?" N=427 (Form F)
favor-74% oppose-23%
"Do you think it should or should not be a criminal offense if a U.S. citizen provides food, shelter, or medical care to an illegal immigrant?"
Should-27% should not-67%
FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. April 4-5, 2006. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.
.
"In general, do you think immigrants who come to the United States today help the country and make it a better place to live or hurt the country and make it a worse place to live?"
Help-42% Hurt-30% Depends-20%
Time Poll conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas (SRBI) Public Affairs. March 29-30, 2006. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
"Do you think that people who are here illegally are taking jobs from United States citizens, or are they mostly taking jobs that U.S. citizens do not want or cannot do?"
Taking jobs away from americans-35%
Taking jobs americans don't want-55%
"Two different approaches have been suggested to deal with illegal immigrants. Please tell me which comes closest to your views. (1) Make illegal immigration a crime and not allow anyone who entered the country illegally to work or stay in the United States under any circumstances. OR, (2) Allow illegal immigrants to get temporary work visas so the government can track them and allow them to earn permanent residence after six years if they learn English, pay a fine, pay any back taxes, and have no criminal record." Options rotated
Make Illegal Immigration a Crime-25%
Allow Work Visas, Earn Permanent Residence-72%
"Allowing illegal immigrants now in this country to earn U.S. citizenship if they learn to speak English, have a job and pay taxes"
Favor-78% oppose- 21%
Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs. March 28-30, 2006. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.
"Would you favor or oppose allowing immigrants with jobs who are in the United States illegally to apply for legal, temporary worker status?"
Favor- 56 Oppose-41
"On balance, do you think illegal immigrants mostly make a contribution to American society, or are they mostly a drain on American society?"
Make a Contribution- 51% A Drain42%
"Do you think it should be a serious criminal offense to enter and remain in the United States without proper documentation or should it be considered a minor offense?"
Serious-47% Minor- 51%
"If a fence were built along the border between the United States and Mexico, how confident are you that such a fence would reduce the number of illegal immigrants? . . . "
Very Confident-6% Somewhat Confident-26% Not Too Confident-29% Not at Al Confident-38%
I could go on and on and on....
Go to: http://www.pollingreport.com/immigration.htm |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by brad
(No verified email address) |
29 Apr 2006
|
|
Also you have polls from 2001 on your list, all of my polls are from 2006. That may mean that the protests are infact improving peoples oppinions on the benifits that immigrants bring to the US. Keep it up. I can't wait for the poll bounce after the monday rallies break records. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by BC grad student
(No verified email address) |
29 Apr 2006
|
As a graduate student at BC, this is fantastic to see, but I'm disappointed that I didn't hear anything about this at school. I am in the Lynch School, and I know that a lot of people know about this issue, generally, but I didn't hear about anything particularly about May Day with regards to student contingents, etc. I'm not trying to sound like a complainer, because I do understand the difficulties about outreach in general on our campus (as well as the fact that a lot of us are just not on campus very much and thusly not involved in student politics) but I've been really disappointed at how out of the loop some of the grad students feel about the organizing on campus. Some of us nerds in the library have some good experience and some excellent politics.
On the flip side, I'm sure we could do better about seeking out the organizing that is going on, but I have and it still feels very cloaked to me. The search function on the bc.edu tells me more about webcams of O'Neill plaza than it does about anything of importance going on.
Anyway, let's make some (Jesuit) noise on Monday. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by @
(No verified email address) |
30 Apr 2006
|
|
Grad student. Are your studies being paid for by a capitalist corporation? Are you a research or teaching assistant? If so, then your education is paid for by corporations. So get your ass back to work. |
|
Re: BC Students Support Immigrants |
by Feller
(No verified email address) |
01 May 2006
|
|
What a great day! I didn't have to wait in line today for my coffee at 7-11! |
|
