(English → Français) View originalTranslators:
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. 32k1em1ha5l4vn2igp9fuy13434kjeipJohn 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.tqs2ea3ku8e5jlg554wqx0s8ek1h0abl
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.prsjdsc5b8y3q9nmc0ugzgh42nmjz43x
rrpf5tfw27r6v8ar29a1928nx086srv8
Crossing Edmund Pettis bridge, great crowd #fpi2012pic.twitter.com/IegdZmch, March 4, 20127prrbjzam2uyuka4p6z7dl5g7pqhqnnb
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.3s7pg1a0bqkvukqamanoc68emlw1hz3q
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.elwi2x583fyk6okkzawl0j63nd1vbqwq
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. 0avqmk10w3o5ecwirbemkdptj05ei2nf
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.su2ow40grwev7r3r693gxacwf4gz2p8n
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.to688eqipwzjmvvg8brregkni7yc0u3w
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.8aursrtokwjeccq1pizf3r2dz2ia93t2k3omkhkcu932l07e7jh01d3qpa3weolh
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.ea0f6a54rh2w2q3zuraxvnqldfk7jd1u
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. 95p8tc17bprmc5e04yermtl2e8yk60dbAt 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.02z09wqnnpuxrrvpoindyzicp8gozn1o
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.fplrxhmbcf20kk6t3y7zl2tkln0mvt71
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.lp0c9sei68xdmzm6ck8ouo6cjvak18hs
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.8aursrtokwjeccq1pizf3r2dz2ia93t2k3omkhkcu932l07e7jh01d3qpa3weolh
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:5xlv4wqmg36ljny60cqmoogw7owz3y8v
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.lmurxofxth71t0ok7ahegwi4rjk0pl9j
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. yffag5qs1y7l8lqldrbkq1ludicyi4yzI 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.hud000o8nvm3mlp9zy6xjw17n3ip47xz
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.revtjmvq27ogou04vbvq2nfg0aw1ouo6
via Latinos Join in Commemorating Alabama’s Historic Civil Rights Anniversary – The March from Selma to Montgomery yjuvm51v2swca6eh07aygehjkeshwgh2
(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.