DOCUMENTSThe Boston May Day Coalition Reorganizes to Continue the StruggleOn November 12, 2008 the Boston May Day Coalition met and after a thorough discussion of the agenda items which included the Coalition, work and current situation, two major decisions were made that changed the Coalition status to a Committee and to close the petition demanding that Bush stop the ICE raids and deportations. Below are the decisions and brief descriptions.
I.- The BMDC will be known as the "Boston May Day Committee" and will continue to meet monthly, endorse and support appropriate actions and statements as it works to rebuild and strengthen the coalition.
For approximately eight months the BMDC has experienced a decline in the participation of Coalition members, consistent low meeting attendance and a few "no show" meetings and finally, the lack of representation from the founding and subsequent organizations that composed the Coalition. Further, the momentum experienced in 2006 has been waning due to various reasons including the intensification of massive ICE raids, increased deportations and attempts of legislative blackmail. These and other negative influences have had a weakening impact on the immigrant rights movement. The good news is that while inertia is prevalent on a national level there are local and regional coalitions, organizations and ad-hoc groups that have been organizing and mobilizing direct actions to the inhumane ICE and related government repression and violence against the immigrant communities.
The BMDC (Boston May Day Committee) will review its goals, accomplishments and weaknesses and how to improve overall coalition building including strengthening our ties with other organizations such as labor unions (rank & file), antiwar, radical, anti capitalist and anti imperialist groups . We will continue to support the efforts of immigrant workers rights and related actions that support the protection of their human rights and advance the agenda for recognition and unconditional legalization.
The BMDC will continue to promote and participate in May 1st International Workers Day activities celebrating the workers of the world's struggle that lead to the victorious eight hour work day and to commemorate the labor leaders who were executed by hanging in 1886. The BMDC clearly recognizes the connection between this struggle for labor rights of the past and the current struggle for migrant workers rights and strongly advocates that the struggle for migrant workers rights must be broadened beyond the USA phenomena and into an international struggle.
II.- "Close" petition demanding that Bush issue an executive order to Homeland Security to stop ICE raids and deportations.
In 2006, millions migrant workers, families and supporters participated in mass mobilizations across the nation to demand unconditional legalization and human rights for migrant workers and their families. And, in 2007, the USA government responded to those demands by launching assaults on Immigrant workers and their families by intensifying ICE raids and increasing deportations and acts of intimidation on their supporters. Here in New England we witnessed a massive ICE raid in New Bedford, at the lo Bianco Plant where 360 plus workers were arrested. Among its agenda of actions, the BMDC responded to these acts of violence and violations of human rights by initiating two petition campaigns, one petition demanded that the " USA sign onto the UN Convention For the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families" and the other petition demanded that " President Bush Issue an Executive Order to Homeland Security (ICE is under their command) To Immediately Stop Raids and Deportations". The petitions were also made available online. In addition, the momentum that spirited the 2006 mobilizations had slowed down. For the first five to six months of the petition campaigns, the level of activity was high . Members and comrades were circulating and collecting signatures at community events such as antiwar events, fairs, block parties, meetings, etc. and then the enthusiasm began to wane. In November 2008 the Coalition decided to bring the latter petition to a "close" and mail the originals to President Bush and so it was done. It is expected that we will do a similar mailing to President Elect Obama.
We call upon all those individuals who share our points of view to unite in the struggle for labor and human rights for ALL workers with particular emphasis on undocumented immigrant workers. We are under no illusions that the new administration, Congress and Senate will of its own volition provide a solution to end the exploitation, victimization and repression of undocumented migrant workers. We must continue to pressure the government and related agencies to adhere to the demands of immigrant communities and supporters, beginning with the unconditional legalization of all undocumented workers currently living in the USA. The BMDC strongly advocates for the support and active participation of an international mobilization for migrant workers rights and especially request endorsements from labor, peasant, women and student organizations in Latin America, the Caribbean and USA.
In The Struggle,
Dorotea Manuela
(617) 922-5744
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