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On March 7th of 1965, a 22-year old John Lewis and several nonviolent civil rights marchers were just beginning a march in Alabama, from Selma to Montgomery, in support of voting rights, when they were tragically beaten, trampled and tear-gassed by Alabama State troopers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. vqv7xc0iewj7v5zi47vzvzvky7vbw3iiJohn Lewis stood for equality then, survived and continues to stand for justice now — as a great civil rights leader now serving in Congress who regularly raises his voice in support of Latinos, immigrants, youth and Dreamers.wwqze6e2w6l9iba51x6irpbie0qx8rwr
This week, many progressive leaders are commemorating the anniversary of the 50-mile Selma to Montgomery march that John Lewis and many others braved by spotlighting both the progress that our nation has seen since 1965 while also cautioning against the threats we see today through controversial laws that threaten voting rights and the immigrant community.0corg1d5fnnez7mx4rkz20ouwn4nba2a
8ogmf8bb15ubfnnr7ikt4tfolxer0r3l
Crossing Edmund Pettis bridge, great crowd #fpi2012pic.twitter.com/IegdZmch, March 4, 20126u62x8oyrlmjfbu35s18z493rqphr5ui
The march was not a memory to the past, but a protest of the present. In Alabama, conservatives are moving once more to suppress the vote, part of a concerted effort across the country to make it harder for the poor, the elderly and minorities to vote.idrs6kvcso0fdhuxro48ojbbgfuwkze8
Alabama’s voter ID law will require citizens to present photo identification at the polls. An Alabama immigration law requires police to determine citizenship status during traffic stops, essentially exposing Latino citizens and non-citizens to constant harassment.wukqnr7584wz4t1e8to6ifx2lx5ycvyi
Photo ID laws have been introduced or passed in at least 15 states. They discriminate against those who don’t have driver’s licenses — disproportionately poor, elderly and minorities. s4kp7nkt2wq5i93xf3suh4zvisrvov8i
Nationally they could disenfranchise about 5 million voters. The current drive is the greatest insult to the Voting Rights Act since it was passed 47 years ago.ec64x3fzgj8zmmtue4qo7ali112g30at
This example of an assault on our rights serves as a reminder that just as our democracy is never finished improving, neither is the struggle for civil rights in this country. The assault on voting rights, is no different from the assault on immigrants and the discrimination of the LGBT community.2op5azfoy8hlp3gg3tvwng6f0rywt4qn
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.uapz9z20domy7jttzonlk87yv3dm652ien0vmpiw86wnrmh5xk4z9nf7krn2e0c6
They are each fighting for equality of treatment and of opportunity, each fighting for recognition and legitimacy and each fighting for the right to be heard. That is why it is so important for the Latino community to stand in solidarity and support in the recognition of this historic event and utilize this as an opportunity to build a coalition for the continuing assault on our democratic rights.tij4cllaa0spcuaqyhkgc8vjjq27wh7g
This week, many national Latino organizations and community members are also joining in commemorating the march from Selma to Montgomery. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and the Hispanic Federation are leading a delegation from Washington, D.C. to Alabama for the Selma to Montgomery March and Rally. gx1wf6twlmg19svc6pvntmuea8q150frAt the LCLAA Headquarters, at the AFL-CIO, attendees joined in a brief demonstration and press conference this morning to support our brothers and sisters in Alabama and to demand the protection our workers’ rights, voting rights, public education, and immigration reform. The delegation will be in Alabama through March 9th to join in the efforts to commemorate this historic event and continue the call for protection of our rights. For details, contact Diana Arguello at 202.508.6919 or darguello@lclaa.org.9i9z9sqbspniw9mhwkwzuxo2abvef6xp
Many states have launched an all-out coordinated assault on our democracy by attacking workers’ rights, voting rights, public education and comprehensive immigration reform. This is a crucial and opportune moment in history to remind the nation that the rights of many in our community are under attack.kdqp6xekpdsmkw83saskm6ubdkr1j67p
These blatant actions serve as a reminder that just as our pursuit for a more perfect union is never finished, neither is the struggle for civil rights in this country. The assault on voting rights, is no different from the assault on immigrants and the discrimination of the LGBT community.hqg56o8sx9bg2lyd0sigr7rv47m0v5ic
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.uapz9z20domy7jttzonlk87yv3dm652ien0vmpiw86wnrmh5xk4z9nf7krn2e0c6
As the Latino delegation heads to Alabama, and as many of us prepare to do all we can before this November to ensure that the struggle for equality was not in vain, on this historic anniversary the New Latino Movement joins in supporting and sharing President Barack Obama’s statement:418n809i67x58budytmg8jmfy1a29f7b
Today, we remember their courage in the face of danger and the spirit of perseverance that helped lead to iconic legislation like the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. We also recommit ourselves to their struggle and to the idea that we should always seek a more perfect union.iap5hz5uhuigzfanhcwbbdj1o1s1euh2
As states and outside groups continue to mobilize and raise their assault on our democracy, we must be equally mobilized and be in a strong position to demand and protect our worker’s rights, voting rights, education rights and immigration reform. wdeqlnplh5e4h09g07hf38u4dz2y9obxI repeat: This is a crucial and opportune moment in history to remind the nation that the rights of many in our community are under attack, but by standing in solidarity –organized and engaged– we can uphold our rights and those of others; continuing the great legacy of the Civil Rights movement and serving our democracy by being the ones to help perfect our Union.bshr9qd4u76r0fyrd7t7jdq17dnno147
Follow and support the march repeal voter ID laws and Alabama’s HB56 strict anti-immigration law– search and use Twitter handles and hashtags through March 9th like @LCLAA, @LULACNational, #SelmaToMontgomery, #LCLAAtoAL, #ALMarch2012, #NoHB56.ogdf9xf8exvswou42xbdg0criogbeu9r
via Latinos Join in Commemorating Alabama’s Historic Civil Rights Anniversary – The March from Selma to Montgomery n19fvq3csb1xgdjdeaq5rodvc94abum2
(original) View Français translation
On March 7th of 1965, a 22-year old John Lewis and several nonviolent civil rights marchers were just beginning a march in Alabama, from Selma to Montgomery, in support of voting rights, when they were tragically beaten, trampled and tear-gassed by Alabama State troopers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. John Lewis stood for equality then, survived and continues to stand for justice now — as a great civil rights leader now serving in Congress who regularly raises his voice in support of Latinos, immigrants, youth and Dreamers.
This week, many progressive leaders are commemorating the anniversary of the 50-mile Selma to Montgomery march that John Lewis and many others braved by spotlighting both the progress that our nation has seen since 1965 while also cautioning against the threats we see today through controversial laws that threaten voting rights and the immigrant community.
Crossing Edmund Pettis bridge, great crowd #fpi2012pic.twitter.com/IegdZmch, March 4, 2012
In the Chicago Sun Times, he writes:
The march was not a memory to the past, but a protest of the present. In Alabama, conservatives are moving once more to suppress the vote, part of a concerted effort across the country to make it harder for the poor, the elderly and minorities to vote.
Alabama’s voter ID law will require citizens to present photo identification at the polls. An Alabama immigration law requires police to determine citizenship status during traffic stops, essentially exposing Latino citizens and non-citizens to constant harassment.
Photo ID laws have been introduced or passed in at least 15 states. They discriminate against those who don’t have driver’s licenses — disproportionately poor, elderly and minorities.
Nationally they could disenfranchise about 5 million voters. The current drive is the greatest insult to the Voting Rights Act since it was passed 47 years ago.
This example of an assault on our rights serves as a reminder that just as our democracy is never finished improving, neither is the struggle for civil rights in this country. The assault on voting rights, is no different from the assault on immigrants and the discrimination of the LGBT community.
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.
They are each fighting for equality of treatment and of opportunity, each fighting for recognition and legitimacy and each fighting for the right to be heard. That is why it is so important for the Latino community to stand in solidarity and support in the recognition of this historic event and utilize this as an opportunity to build a coalition for the continuing assault on our democratic rights.
This week, many national Latino organizations and community members are also joining in commemorating the march from Selma to Montgomery. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and the Hispanic Federation are leading a delegation from Washington, D.C. to Alabama for the Selma to Montgomery March and Rally. At the LCLAA Headquarters, at the AFL-CIO, attendees joined in a brief demonstration and press conference this morning to support our brothers and sisters in Alabama and to demand the protection our workers’ rights, voting rights, public education, and immigration reform. The delegation will be in Alabama through March 9th to join in the efforts to commemorate this historic event and continue the call for protection of our rights. For details, contact Diana Arguello at 202.508.6919 or darguello@lclaa.org.
Many states have launched an all-out coordinated assault on our democracy by attacking workers’ rights, voting rights, public education and comprehensive immigration reform. This is a crucial and opportune moment in history to remind the nation that the rights of many in our community are under attack.
These blatant actions serve as a reminder that just as our pursuit for a more perfect union is never finished, neither is the struggle for civil rights in this country. The assault on voting rights, is no different from the assault on immigrants and the discrimination of the LGBT community.
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.
As the Latino delegation heads to Alabama, and as many of us prepare to do all we can before this November to ensure that the struggle for equality was not in vain, on this historic anniversary the New Latino Movement joins in supporting and sharing President Barack Obama’s statement:
Today, we remember their courage in the face of danger and the spirit of perseverance that helped lead to iconic legislation like the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. We also recommit ourselves to their struggle and to the idea that we should always seek a more perfect union.
As states and outside groups continue to mobilize and raise their assault on our democracy, we must be equally mobilized and be in a strong position to demand and protect our worker’s rights, voting rights, education rights and immigration reform. I repeat: This is a crucial and opportune moment in history to remind the nation that the rights of many in our community are under attack, but by standing in solidarity –organized and engaged– we can uphold our rights and those of others; continuing the great legacy of the Civil Rights movement and serving our democracy by being the ones to help perfect our Union.
Follow and support the march repeal voter ID laws and Alabama’s HB56 strict anti-immigration law– search and use Twitter handles and hashtags through March 9th like @LCLAA, @LULACNational, #SelmaToMontgomery, #LCLAAtoAL, #ALMarch2012, #NoHB56.