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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. nl6uov9c7db5xxrs8s67wngclh2u17e6John 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.27irmu1ccixws7sgulemtqnqbubxiv5o
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.v6hz6zipxqi0y9i0px9l7r4rhf1es8m5
hdflgp2g8hanxwdmt1vb9okx60wpr2oo
Crossing Edmund Pettis bridge, great crowd #fpi2012pic.twitter.com/IegdZmch, March 4, 2012rwhfgsd80spx7vf2yzsarrh3g7nezwls
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.zpz4pb0osszpua4ksgeuv6xtt02ullz7
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.5qfv1kn0p2b53pw8o1ga2ag9uxtjo6n4
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. wq4htfv3f12jcxt5krdl17ol2gaxet9o
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.d4si2bvaz31kmi77llah8xix17fgbgl3
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.fdxevj5ibx2bmng57rh3fmxceflt9kkv
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.e582x7wmzn6x49ks4upc4itrc1g6no0w0kh5ldn8x0t90h4n4wemv2ozhv0rz14r
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.s2o6csqypj31uwjtuwf87jjlomygth18
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. bmz3uauqedh7ckbxfponcc1fys1re6cwAt 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.4y0rehhfd4j254e83woax503whc5xdsv
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.dxky4b7qpfp9i7h6ut5hjxbwxrbfvhmj
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.5qpfqp73iq7zrc2d9molw83tgnrfro9i
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.e582x7wmzn6x49ks4upc4itrc1g6no0w0kh5ldn8x0t90h4n4wemv2ozhv0rz14r
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:vu8gu54oo4ix6uybf756obmnxn52rpeh
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.zjk35xagfnq5fkvdlcvmqqz2bdgquyw6
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. orz1wltlfrvr4626gj22mrnix109xk6tI 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.zutubzzrjs2trdf6327oasbp2dqcwxqc
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.gnevclwjydh6w7i3kosvtk6r3mtgyzdy
via Latinos Join in Commemorating Alabama’s Historic Civil Rights Anniversary – The March from Selma to Montgomery bk92j7013oxj2i3f1qbtlzk23df86a1g
(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.