Nov 1 in San Francisco: Vigil & Action for Liberty and Justice, Against SB1070

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Appeals Court Hearing on SB 1070 sparks major community protest
Faith, immigrant Leaders stage procession and rally to honor immigrant families;
Speak out against police-ICE collusion in Arizona and at home

Contact:
Andrea Mercado, MUA: (510) 205 3684 andreacristina@mujeresunidas.net
Rev. Debbie Lee, ICIR: (415) 297-8222 rev.deb.lee@gmail.com
Charlene Tschirhart, ICIR: (510) 205-4434 chartschirhart@earthlink.net

What: Religious leaders, community residents and organizations will hold a large procession and protest rally against Arizona’s discriminatory SB 1070 as the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco conducts a hearing on the controversial law. Advocates will also draw connections between the law and the Federal “S-Comm” program that creates a new collusion between police and ICE.

When/Where: Monday, November 1, 2010:

• 8:00am Blessing at St Patrick’s Church, 756 Mission St, San Francisco
• 8:30am Procession to Federal Courthouse, 95 7th St, San Francisco
• 9:00am Program and Rally at Courthouse as hearing begins, 95 7th St, San Francisco
• 5:00pm SB1070 Arizona Artists Against 1070 Opening, The Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission Street, San Francisco

Who: Bishop Otis Charles, Episcopal; Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Presbyterian; Fr. Louis Vitale, Catholic (Franciscan); Rev. Jeff Johnson, Lutheran. Bianca Rojo, US Citizen whose parents were unjustly deported when she was a teenager, has helped register Latino voters in Arizona, as well as members of Mujeres Unidas y Activas, Causa Justa::Just Cause, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE), Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Filipino Advocates for Justice, Day Labor Program of La Raza Centro Legal, Chinese Progressive Association and more.

Visuals: Procession led by clergy leaders in formal garb, featuring images by Arizona artists, skeletons and flowers and other day of the dead imagery to symbolize the separation of families and deaths of migrants on the border.

Why: Arizona’s harsh SB1070 has created a human rights crisis in the state and illustrates the dangers of Police- ICE collusion, as it undermines community safety and hurts immigrant families. Advocates also see worrisome parallels between SB 1070 and the so-called “Secure” Communities or S-Comm program, which coerces collaboration between police and immigration officials across the country, effectively referring to immigration officials for deportation immigrants whose fingerprints are taken by law enforcement personnel, even for minor infractions, and even if the person is innocent. Cities like San Francisco have demanded the right to opt-out of S-Comm. Monday’s vigil calls for an end to the humanitarian crisis in immigrant communities and a stop to cruel enforcement policies which are separating families and creating a climate of fear.

“Today as people of faith we stand with immigrant families and communities across this country who are suffering from unjust laws like Arizona's harsh SB 1070. Immigrants are part of our congregations and contribute greatly to the economy and to the community," said Rev. Deborah Lee. "We pray for families who live each day in fear of being torn apart by deportations. We pray for our elected officials and call on them work together to find effective solutions. Our country urgently needs immigration policies that honor our best American values and respect the dignity of all people.”

“We need real and humane solutions to our broken immigration system, like legalization for all, not harsh enforcement policies which drive the immigrant community further into the shadows,” said Juana Flores of Mujeres Unidas y Activas.