(English → Español) 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. 7tfa5wckjw1jnfmmtcclz30sxt505s0nJohn 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.5ychjy9gso2tsbsc3wqurd3qjgrqpl5n
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.e7mbi3w38r35firm02qv308asd09w73w
5eatc9s2c6b503i9ahyftsmjrmakpwry
Crossing Edmund Pettis bridge, great crowd #fpi2012pic.twitter.com/IegdZmch, March 4, 2012mt9cyboli1ticf9iual5zj49no4uabxe
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.tacodnlascwp0swg2c9wjg5cygai9jhv
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.vi62kauhh2a72hvp2fahau303ktjua81
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. 0by90wvb5z6jbgh0alllumqpxup985zs
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.tlpf8mzq0e5ikfkygj1rxpgg3ty3n2r8
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.yz18jopihlxgac740401qk2qori6ipe4
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.fnfhvd51gjwhoum6ag7u888y66zvi3l2y9vmcpdq27hav13w5pwchx9otkpy1wae
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.r9qiabr47ztwqjg4zwsacyy4c3wv5t6d
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. 10bdq5j7b05fzh1u62eu8210l7ueex4tAt 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.mfl1b059x6u5i5l1n659tjxtb6d8yimo
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.nbpwwzd7zo2e23v41i8losmwhwadkqc7
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.z41m58eu10jm5m8e98cjiaqcj3svhzad
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.fnfhvd51gjwhoum6ag7u888y66zvi3l2y9vmcpdq27hav13w5pwchx9otkpy1wae
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:6mh2mh2cy14ztscibfn4cn6merbdyvn6
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.ux23hm2zb3qrmng3r1wzxx0dgojqpfbh
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. f6djpkxtuvxaohq64pyxjufjb13dbl06I 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.dml8l1x7i5d6tov70jh1ovgqvluxbmg9
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.s95g7llz5n4isveem8mgv0frugpc4xtv
via Latinos Join in Commemorating Alabama’s Historic Civil Rights Anniversary – The March from Selma to Montgomery 9sqr9kzo6ecda5iw97uyyl0f4gqs8qzm
(original) View Español 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.