(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. rdmmic6qzsi6utmw2woytu378w3851a9John 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.yvszwfohrvr1z1o9tz0e1uz4fww0e728
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.9c0i5xrh6m6viqwajleh8ri6rrzr63ty
fqnr3ywv5h6kn535jh5a1wq4zvvgpxef
Crossing Edmund Pettis bridge, great crowd #fpi2012pic.twitter.com/IegdZmch, March 4, 2012qqho8gp6cmh6hrie5dsadhdg538lia78
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.hn39e0xr0nra1xfornmpuuj0faan0aqv
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.l3rsco3fotggmq6gqulezshfettgzp99
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. 4stj90qzzz555j22h25i3i243dxnaogc
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.o91mi7qve3bv3p9rsyr0krlsou2xeosa
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.38ud8g3blyjl42331x4baixlmgz4zqwk
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.kqyr7dn5r5ctzyouwihwew8drq1fj7sctncpstwch1i4wgk4rrdfd94jckjpgfau
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.yodev00qnq7apiu00bqye0lsfyw5knno
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. mhbpoeuxe1l6cdh734zujvkrwitkr787At 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.rdtj67aaf49u2jsr4bjz410up8nzf64m
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.nn1o87o3pgpc6t6v1c7237xvinjl82ee
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.36wpu4ns281gm2g6mq1vir9iodo7qwpx
All of these struggles and all of these movements are one in the same.kqyr7dn5r5ctzyouwihwew8drq1fj7sctncpstwch1i4wgk4rrdfd94jckjpgfau
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:h84etq1osc4vpa969dqeqvuyk4pv4e71
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.7savvjaqbzjg66ul4bbilkqtblxp9ycd
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. qsjl3c1f860b2uc5ldizvf4r1lfpyh0cI 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.me5a00e1md2007m0tbxx0xhhje23gvbd
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.ds9flav2deibns0lpsq9ss2l1y04rhuw
via Latinos Join in Commemorating Alabama’s Historic Civil Rights Anniversary – The March from Selma to Montgomery yelfurmc1w9einipybk95jgvuxf5jzt8
(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.