The Freedom Ride Rolls
Click here for October 1, 2003 reports from the road
Click here for October 3 and October 7 reports
The events at the host city stops are receiving excellent press and more than we had expected. The support throughout the first few days of the ride has been spectacular and overwhelming.
From the successful rally in Sacramento at the capitol, to the march in downtown Palm Springs, to the energetic welcome in Phoenix, to the moving speeches at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Yakima, to the well attended, Mass in Tucson, to the rallies at the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in Reno and University of Nevada Reno and the soccer match--the hard work and dedication of the local coalitions have culminated in fantastic events around the country, with riders and speakers keeping on message about the purpose of the Ride:
- legalization
- clear path to citizenship
- family reunification
- protection of civil rights and liberties
For those who have not heard, two buses carrying freedom riders from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, were administratively detained for a few hours by the Border Patrol in one of its fixed checkpoints. Some incorrect information was circulated suggesting that riders were detained. Buses were held and the riders were questioned. The riders remained silent in the face of questioning, and the Border Patrol found no evidence that any of the riders were in their country illegally. As a result, they released the buses. No one was arrested.
Here are highlights of recent events around the country.
San Antonio: Approximately 400 people in San Antonio rallied at City Hall last night, chanting 'si se puede,' despite the absence of the LA buses, which arrived at 9 pm. When the buses did arrive at the second event at the Cathedral, they were warmly welcomed by a crowd of 150 who waited to greet them.
Austin: About 400 people attended a rousing event in Austin, with a larger crowd than anticipated. One labor leader involved commented that this was the first time that all these different groups--immigrant, labor, religious, civil rights, and community groups--have come together with common goals.
Denver: The buses were loudly greeted in Denver where the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle and Portland buses gathered for a program at St. Joseph's Church.
New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa also had successful events, ranging from a cultural rally at Latino Community Development Agency to events commemorating the civil rights struggles.
In Immokalee, Florida, riders were greeted by a coalition of Immokalee workers who are ex-captives who took them on a tour of the conditions of the work camps. (The Immokalee workers were held in slave-like conditions, unable to pay off their travel to the US, and a few were murdered attempting to leave.)
Chicago: 3,000 in Chicago saw the buses on their way today. They headed to Dearborn, the most Arab-American town in the US, where riders will address civil rights and liberties issues that particularly affect the Arab-American community since September 11.
Tomorrow, buses will travel through Toledo, OH; Cleveland, OH; Knoxville, TN; Marion NC; Selma, AL; Montgomery, AL; Birmingham, AL; Dallas, TX; Memphis, TN; Green Cove Springs, FL; Savannah, GA; Charleston, SC; Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; Jefferson, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Wichita, KS; Kansas City, MO; St. Louis, MO; Omaha, NE; Des Moines, IA; Davenport (Quad Cities); and Boston, MA.
Check out these news stories and others on http://www.iwfr.org
Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride: 400 locals turn out to welcome 2 busloads
Cross-country campaign for immigrant rights stops in Reno
Supporters of immigrants' rights rally at state Capitol
South Bay immigrants embark on Freedom Ride
Freedom riders bound for New York, fueled by hope
Immigrants seek labor justice
Locals along for the ride: Immigrants' rights caravan holds rallies
Davenport--We (the Immigrant Rights Network-Dubuque Chapter) met the Freedom Riders in Davenport, Iowa late yesterday afternoon. Their speeches were empowering! The support from labor unions, churches, and community groups was eye opening for our group. Each person in our group had a red, white and blue bandana on which they wrote messages of hope. As the Freedom Riders mounted their buses, our group passed on their bandanas so the Freedom Riders could carry their voices of hope on to DC. I know that this experience will help our IRN group become more confident and more vocal within our own community. Thank you for all the hard work in organizing the Freedom Ride. Si se puede!
--Marcia Sola & IRN Dubuque Chapter
DES MOINES--A crowd of 500 people greeted the nearly 100 immigrant and civil rights supporters in Des Moines Sunday. More than 50 Iowa labor, immigrant and civil rights groups, and religious organizations, planned Sunday's rally. State legislators and Governor Tom Vilsack showed up to support immigrants and their rights...KIM JONES
Knoxville - Four hundred people greeted the Las Vegas route buses at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Heard history of freedom rides, local civil rights history, local Palestinian and Mexican immigrants, local bakery workers locked out of their jobs, and a challenge from the chair of the TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition...2 bus riders spoke and were received enthusiastically...the torch from the bus was passed to great effect for the local press: 3 TV stations and the local paper and radio. Then everyone adjourned for dinner, music, and dancing in the gym. Great night. They are at historic labor and civil rights training school, Highlander Center, this morning.
--Jim Sessions (http://www.iwfr.org/knoxville.asp for pictures)
Milwaukee--The Minnesota riders are on their way to Indianapolis after "firing up" a crowd [of about 800] in Milwaukee Sunday night and protesting Monday morning at the home office of a key Congressman on immigration issues. The two Minnesota buses made stops in Madison, Jefferson and Milwaukee, Wis., Sunday. In Milwaukee, they participated in an energetic event at Our Lady of Guadalupe church, organizers said. Early Tuesday, the group demonstrated outside the home office of Congressman James Sensenbrenner in Brookfield, a suburb of Milwaukee. Sensenbrenner, a Republican, chairs a key House committee that oversees immigration issues. The group's next stop is Indianapolis, where a local gathering will highlight the need to reunify families separated under current immigration policies.
--Workday Minnesota (http://www.workdayminnesota.com)
St. Louis--Against the backdrop of the St. Louis Arch, about 900 people welcomed the SF Bay Area bus last night at City Hall, reflecting the massive community support of the IWFR. After a rally with great gospel music, the riders held a memorial in honor of rider Angelina Dominguez's son Esteban Silva, a legal immigrant who died while in custody at an INS detention center. Each freedom rider placed a rose in a basket next to his picture in a moving tribute. This morning, one bus went to National Linen Laundry to a civic participation action where they registered 54 workers to vote (the company gave the workers paid time off for their civic participation). Another bus also registered voters through house visits around St. Frances de Sales Catholic Church. JR Vera reports that the riders are awesome and although only getting 4 to 5 hours of sleep, they remain energized and renewed with each event they attend.
October 7, 2003
Freedom riders come to New York
October 3, 2003
Attacks on immigrants have taken many forms in recent years: cuts in access to public services, attacks on bi-lingual school programs, public campaigns blaming immigrants for loss of jobs and much more. And as the Bush Administration unveiled its plans for permanent war abroad, anti-immigrant activity at home has reached new levels. In the name of "security" immigrants have been rounded up, detained and deported, while physical attacks against immigrants have escalated and gone unpunished.
All across the country thousands more than expected have turned out to participate in the Immigrant Workers Freedom Bus Rides. On Saturday the Riders come to New York for a massive festival and rally in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in support of dignity and the demands of the Riders:
--Legalization and a "road to citizenship" --Family reunification --Immigrants' rights in the workplace --Civil rights and civil liberties for all
Join Democratic Socialists of America and Young Democratic Socialists at the park in support of the Freedom riders. Take the #7 Train to Willets Point-Shea Stadium. Follow the signs to Park. Look for the DSA Banner at the bottom of the large sloping ramp into the park (hint:look to your left). DSA will be there beginning at 11AM.
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Atlanta - Two Freedom Ride buses arrived in Atlanta yesterday, singing "We Shall Overcome" and chanting "Si, se puede" to the gathered crowd at historic Ebenezer Church. Martin Luther King, III, welcomed the Riders and activists, speaking about civil rights history and how the immigrants' struggle is a continuation of this fight for justice. Riders and community member gathered later for a march Doraville, Georgia. The march started early because the crowd was larger than expected. As the march continued, residents, community members, families came out from the neighborhoods to join the march, soon totalling about 5,000, much more than expected. Speakers addressed the issues central to the civil rights movement and the freedom ride, and asked the riders to take the message of solidarity with immigrants to DC and NY. (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0903/30atwimmi.html?urac=n&urvf=10649518611670.2806205438291659)
Nashville - Riders from LA were welcomed in Nashville by about 700 people, where they attended a rally. Rev James Lawson, a civil rights leader and Original freedom rider, spoke about how domestic issues, such as immigration reform, need to be addressed now. He also reminded people of the power of nonviolent proest and mobilization. The events in Nashville aptly illustrated the connection between the civil rights movement that began in the 1960s and the issues central to immigrants today. (http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/09/40155670.shtml?Element_ID=40155670)
Buffalo - The three buses from Chicago stopped in Buffalo yesterday, attending an immigration forum and rally. Speakers focussed on the difficulties in the immigration process since September 11. After hearing stories of immigrant workers, the crowd marched to a rally outside the Adam's Mark Hotel, which is embroiled in a labor dispute with area unions.
New Haven - The buses were welcomed by Mayor John DeStefano Jr., who urged the freedom riders to make history by standing up for what they believe in. New Haven students and activists are organizing additional buses to attend the rally and celebration at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens on Saturday the 4th. Scott Marks gave a sermon calling on everyone to "get on the bus" for this movement. It really brought the buses together.
Columbus - The Minneapolis/St. Paul buses, the Seattle bus and the Portland bus all gathered in Columbus OH last night. The the high energy events here brought the Latino and Somali communities together for the first time. St. Steven's Community Center hosted a dinner for all the riders, local groups giving cultural performances, including Somali dancers. Columbus (the second fastest growing Somali communty after Minneapolis) is the fastest growing immigrant community in the US. Another hightligtht of the Columbus stop was the Justice for Janitors rally today at across from the state capital. An SEIU local organizer said it was the largest rally he has seen in his 1.5 years on the campaign.
Fayetteville, NC - 200 people - members of UFCW, UNITE, and other community and religious groups welcomed the Freedom Riders in the old slave market in downtown Fayetteville for a rally and outdoor viewing of the Justice for Smithfield film - detailing conditions in the hog processing plant where many participants work. Speakers included NAACP president, members of the religious community and union officals from UFCW and NC State AFL-CIO. The First Baptist Church then hosted a barbecue dinner with gospel music by the church choir.--Cathy Howell
Little Rock - From the bus -- Our next stop was Little Rock, Arkansas and the famous Central High School. In 1954, the Central High School was integrated with the help of Federal troops after the local authorities refused to follow the law. The "Little Rock Nine," the nine students who integrated the school were subject to constant harassment, but they held their ground and persevered. They are heroes of the civil rights movement. We toured the Central High Museum after hearing this story from Spirit Trickey, Ranger and a daughter of one of these brave students. Anna Sotela, Shop Steward from the Tropicana, was one of the speakers on the steps of Central High School. She spoke of her experience as an African-American woman and of the need of justice for all people. This event highlighted the legacy of the Freedom Rides of the sixties and our debt to those brave fighters who came before us. (http://www.culinaryunion226.org)
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