Local Immigrants and Supporters to Join Thousands in D.C. for a Massive Mobilization to Demand Immediate Action from Congress
Local Immigrants and Supporters to Join Thousands in D.C. for a Massive Mobilization to Demand Immediate Action from Congress
Newark, N.J.-Immigrants, union members and allies will board buses on Wednesday, December 6 from three New Jersey locations at 7 a.m. en-route to Washington, D.C. to join a massive mobilization of tens of thousands who will descend on Washington, D.C. to demand Congress make good on its promises to pass a clean Dream Act and protect Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries before the end of the year. The event will be marked by the largest act of civil disobedience organized by immigrant groups in the history of the movement.
WHAT: Bus launch for Defend Our Immigrant Families Mobilization in D.C. and bus send off from Elizabeth, Passaic and Morristown.
WHEN AND WHERE: All buses leave at 7 a.m. from Elizabeth (42 Broad St.), Morristown (6 Sussex Ave.) and Passaic (77 3rd St.) on Wednesday, DEC. 6
WHO: SEIU 32BJ, Make the Road, Wind of the Spirit
VISUALS: See attached
MORE: Immigrant communities have been confronting a series of attacks and setbacks, particularly the termination of DACA and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Nicaraguans. Tens of thousands of other TPS holders face uncertainty as the renewal deadlines loom. Congress can pass the Dream Act for immigrant youth and a solution for the 300,000 TPS holders who have long made America their home.
“Over the years and decades, Salvadorans, Hondurans, Haitians and many others with Temporary Protected Status have built thriving lives here, buying homes, starting businesses, serving in the military, raising young Americans. I fear for the grim fate that awaits thousands of TPS holders and Dreamers if Congress fails to act,” said Kevin Brown, Vice President of 32BJ SEIU.
“I’m marching today because we can’t wait another minute for a clean DREAM Act that gives a pathway to citizenship for dreamers like me without any additional funding for Trump’s deportation machine. All of Congress faces a moral test: will you stand up for justice and the future of 800,000 young people like me or will you dash our dreams and tear our families apart?” said María Hernandez, Make the Road NJ member.
“Immigrants make wonderful cultural and important economic contributions to this country. Even if you can’t see the inhumanity in cutting off students of there dreams and potential, and sending back people to a war torn countries, it doesn’t make sense for us to cut them off of the programs we’ve already put in place, especially decades after when they’ve already made their lives here. Taking them away is like shooting ourselves in the foot. We need permanent solutions for these proud Americans that live and breathe the values of this country but are treated as second class people,” said Brian Lozano of Wind of the Spirit.
Immigrant activists have been building momentum throughout the year with a series of marches and Congressional actions aimed at raising the voices of more than a million immigrants working and studying here with temporary working permits. Tens of thousands will rally on Capitol Hill to continue putting pressure on Congress to include provisions that protect immigrant families.
With 163,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country and one of the largest unions representing immigrant workers in the country.
