Fwd: URGENT APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANTS IN THE US

[iwp.ilo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (MDI) (by way of ludo <ludo@xxxxxxx>)]

***** PLEASE COPY, DISTRIBUTE, POST AND SIGN ******

                    ****** INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN ****


    **** For 1,000,000 Signatures From Around the World to Demand=20
General Amnesty for Immigrants in the US and Organize a Movement ******


Dear friends:

Please sign the enclosed letter and petition in favor of a General=20
Amnesty for undocumented immigrants in the US.  Presently, over 6=20
million people and their families live in a virtual apartheid system,=20
being denied all human and civil rights.

The "Papers for All Campaign" in the US will put the US government on=20
trial for the violations of these rights against millions of people in=20
its own territory.=20

The Campaign is intended to call international attention to these=20
abuses.  We are also planning demonstrations, picket lines and other=20
forms fo direct action to obtain the amnesty.

We are inspired and we will link our efforts with the sans-papiers in=20
france and other European countries.

Please, help gathering signatures.

You may send your signatures, including your peronal title and the name=20
of the organization you belong to.  Please, make sure you state whether=20
you are signing on your own behalf or if you're representing your=20
organization.

Thanks

Initial list of Organizers of the Campaign:
African Immigrants Civil Rights Organization; Movimiento por los=20
Derechos de los Inmigrantes (MDI); United Arab Organization of the US;=20
Demand Rights for Cambodians; Latin American Artists Association;=20
Filipinos for Affirmative Action; California Coalition to Fight for=20
Equality; Asociacion de Residentes Latinoamericanos; Peru Salud y Vida;=20
Asociacion de Futbol Soccer (USA); Newspaper Nuevo Horizonte; Newspaper=20
San Francisco Frontlines; Ralph Nader for President Committee;=20
Immigrant Labor Organizing Committee; Green City Project; Chinese=20
Student Association; La Raza Immigration Project; Vietnamese Civil=20
Rights Initiative; Labor Militant (USA); Asociacion de Profesionales=20
Latinos; Immigrant Pride Day Organizing Committee; Mexican Citizens=20
Commission; Central American Coalition for Civil Rights, Concilio, Casa=20
de los J=F3venes (Mission Youth Soccer League, Youth in Action; Instituto=20
Familiar de La Raza, YWCA; Mission Recreation Center; Southern=20
Exposure) and 3,000 teachers, tradeunionists, community activists,=20
artists and health providers.







Papers for All Campaign=20
3311 Mission Street, Suite 135
San Francisco, California 94110
415-648-5257

March 21, 1997

Dear friend:

Millions of immigrant men, women and children, live in a virtual=20
apartheid system in the United States. Sometimes called "undocumented"=20
or "illegal", they are at the bottom of the social scale.

Immigrants receive no benefits, such as SSI, unemployment or Medicaid,=20
while they pay billions of dollars in taxes. Immigrants have no right=20
to vote and are denied many constitutional rights such as the freedom=20
of movement or expression. They are denied these rights while at the=20
same time they contribute to the economy, the enrichment of our=20
culture, and to the development of science, labor and education.

In many cases, immigrants are paid salaries below legal standards, live=20
in sub-human conditions, and receive no help in times of need. They are
subjected to vilification, discrimination and stereotyping.

Immigrant children have little hope of access to good jobs, higher=20
education or other economic or social opportunities, no matter how=20
qualified or hardworking they may be. They are socially, politically,=20
and economically invisible.

Politicians, the media, and the right wing portray them as useless=20
vagrants or worse, and they are continually scapegoated for all social=20
ills. This reality is a shameful reminder of what or society cannot be.=20
We must end apartheid in this state and throughout the country.

Please consider supporting our campaign for "Papers for All" and our=20
call for an immediate amnesty of all undocumented workers and their=20
families in the U.S.. Sign, copy, and distribute this letter. Ask other=20
organizations and individuals to sign.

Send a contribution to help extend this campaign state and nationwide.=20
Make your checks payable to "Papers for All Campaign".

You will receive periodic updates on the campaign, notice of meetings=20
and planned actions. Get involved. We are planning letter campaigns,
demonstrations and marches, media outreach, lobbying, and are planning=20
to expose these violations of human and civil rights nationally and
internationally. We need you and your organization. Join us now!



Sincerely,=20

    (Add your name and the name of your organization to this cover=20
letter that will be sent to every elected officer in the US and in=20
several other countries and over 50,000 other concerned individuals in=20
various capacities in international and national policy intitutions)



Please, al so sign the following:

TEXT OF GENERAL IMMIGRATION AMNESTY PETITION

Whereas, there are currently millions of men, women an dchildren in the
United states who did not qualify for the 1986 immigration amnesty;

The lack of documents for immigrant workers is a hindrance to enjoyment=20
of a decent life, producing a situation where employers violate work=20
laws at will and force their workers to labor for low wages, long=20
hours, and under deplorable conditions;=20

These abuses result in the utilization of undocumented workers as a=20
weapon by unscrupulous employers in order to lower wages for all=20
workers, forcingm them to compete among themselves and thus fostering=20
racial divisions;

Under these conditions immigrants are the object of persecution,
discrimination and hatred, a situtation that means millions of men,=20
women and children are prisoners of a virtual apartheid system in the=20
United States, a violation of the most basic human and civil rights;

Under current conditions immigrant youths who finish high school have=20
no access to insttuitions of higher education, and thus are faced with=20
a lack of educational or work alternatives;

thousands of Salvadoran and Nicaraguan immigrants are under threat of
deportation because they were not able to obtain permanent residence,=20
their work permits have expired;

We propose that there be a GENERAL AMNESTY FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS so that=20
they may have access to decent employment and higher education.


ADD YOUR NAME AND OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE, CITY AND=20
COUNTRY, FAX NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS AND SEND IT TO:

Snail Mail:  Papers for All Campaign
             3311 MIssion Street, Suite 135
             San Francisco, California 94110
             San Francisco, California 94110

FAX: (415) 648-5257 -- San Francisco, USA


E-Mail: iwp.ilo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx




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