Mableton, Georgia, 8/3/11-  The hunger strike protest which began on July 1^st, the day HB 87 took effect in Georgia, continues into its 35th day with Salvador Zamora fasting , and Martin Altamirano and others, who joined the fast for a period of time, caring for Salvador.

 

Rich Pellegrino, of the Cobb Immigrant Alliance, who, along with the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, and other organizations, are supporting the hunger strike , stated: "Salvador is determined to continue his hunger strike, risking even death, until Governor Nathan Deal agrees to meet with him and representatives of various organizations who are similarly concerned about the effects of HB 87 on all the residents of GA."

 

A letter is being prepared to deliver to the Governor with Salvador's request for such a meeting. Salvador says he will deliver the letter next week even if he has to do so in a wheelchair or on a stretcher.

 

Salvador states: "With no alternative but to sacrifice my body, I fast believing that undocumented people are a SOCIAL issue not a fear filled political agenda.” He continues, “I fast in grief for my Hispanic friends and other neighbors who are afraid to shop, to work, to be seen on the streets. 

 

I fast to raise awareness about undocumented mothers and fathers fleeing in fear from homes where their American children played, were nurtured and grew. I fast to demonstrate all people deserve  dignity.

 

I fast to call attention to and halt what appears to be a swaggering glee among some local police, sheriff departments, legislators and others when raids, round-ups and road blocks net men, women and children who only want to live a simple, safe life. 

 

I fast to challenge the enforcement only mentality of law enforcement, as well as the Georgia legislators and Governor Deal; all seem to support the mega-Corrections Corporation of America and its profitable legalized human trafficking/deportation business.

 

I fast because HB 87 is demeaning, not something to be proud of. It degrades you and me."

Tax relief conference on Saturday, October 1, 2011, 9 A.M. until 2 P.M. Augusta State University - Athletic Complex, 3109 Wrightsboro Road.

"We have too many fathers in prison instead of spending time with their children.

We need to get back in touch with our children and that is what this walk is all about CHANGE." 

A 139 miles walk for change to Johnson state prison beginning on the 20th of June. 

www.noahsarkatl.com

Next Tuesday, eyes will be on Charlotte, North Carolina, for a big protest outside the annual shareholder meeting of financial services giant TIAA-CREF! People are flying in from thousands of miles away. Will you be there?

For more than a year, tens of thousands of people around the country have taken part in the

"We Divest" Campaign, calling on TIAA-CREF to divest fromCaterpillar, Motorola, Veolia, and other companies profiting from the Israeli occupation.

Last year, dozens protested outside TIAA-CREF's annual shareholder meeting in New York City. This year, TIAA-CREF moved the meeting to Charlotte, perhaps to avoid protests by supporters of Palestinian human rights?

I know from touring the region that TIAA-CREF has underestimated the Southeast! Let's show TIAA-CREF how people of conscience respond to organizations profiting from human rights abuses. Like Caterpillar, which also recently

moved its shareholders meeting to try to avoid us, TIAA-CREF can run but it can't hide!

Be there Tuesday!  Where: TIAA-CREF Charlotte Office 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC When: Tuesday, July 19th, 12:30 pm

  

 RALLY AGAINST HB 87 

The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) announced that it is organizing a rally for the dignity and legalization of undocumented immigrants to be held on July 2 at 10 AM in front of the state capitol. 

Adelina Nicholls, the Executive Director of GLAHR, said the rally would be the Latino community‟s response showing that it will not allow itself to be bullied or cowed. “We‟re going to be out in the open on our feet demanding our rights,” she said, “not cowering in the shadows begging for mercy on our knees.” 

The organizers are asking people to come wearing a white shirt or T-shirt, to bring water and a garbage bag for trash, and to come fired up and ready to show the anti-immigrants that we‟re not leaving or backing down. 

Teodoro Maus, president of GLAHR, said that “the rally wasn‟t just for Latinos. All people of good will, no matter their race, religion or what they do for a living, are urged to come, and if you believe, as we do, that any time one person is branded „illegal‟ it demeans the dignity of all human beings, then join with us,” Maus said. 

He noted that HB 87 affects not just the Latino community. It imposes new and unnecessary duties on already overburdened police departments, cutting off law enforcement from the cooperation and support of Latinos and the community from police protection. 

It also forces businesses to spend more time dealing with employment red tape at a time when we desperately need them to focus on getting the economy out of its worst downturn since the Great Depression almost a century ago. 

“GLAHR is going to wage a relentless fight,” Maus said, “not just until we overcome HB 87 and the hate and hysteria that inspired it, but until we get a comprehensive and generous immigration reform from the federal government.” 

“This May Day rally for dignity,” he concluded, “is just the first step in this new stage of the movement.” 

Atlanta 4-9-11. Georgia is on the brink of enacting extreme immigration laws that could enable racial profiling and cripple the state's economy.

At a rally in front of the Capitol with thousands of people, Georgia civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis strongly condemned the bills. Small business owners even sent letters to the Governor, asking him to block this dangerous legislation. Still, the bills are moving forward and could reach the Governor's desk in a matter of days.  

While local groups have been busy petitioning Georgia's governor, Nathan Deal, to commit to a veto, the stakes just got even higher.  Yesterday, national civil rights leaders sent a letter to Governor Deal, stating that they will launch a boycott of Georgia similar to the one that devastated Arizona's tourism industry (SB 1070), should these bills become law, specifically HB 87.

The group Alto Georgia is part of a statewide effort to collect signatures for a petition that they will deliver directly to the Governor.

A group of leaders of the Augusta-Richmond County area has being meeting for several months to talk about ways to engage the minority community and disenfranchised voters into the political system and their voices be heard not only during campaign seasons.

The alliance is formed by representatives of the black community, Latino, Asians, women and others. According to Georgians Call To Action members the group try to stay away from the bickering and sometimes ugly confrontation among politicians and party members of the democratic and republican parties.

For more information, call 706-294-4584.