RebeldePorLaPAZ
10th December 2007, 05:16
HARTFORD, CT - Every day there are thousands of Hartford residents who live in fear of being taken from their homes. These residents are living and working in Hartford without the documents needed to legally reside in the United States. In November alone, twenty one Brazilian residents in Hartfords Parkville neighborhood were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Monday, December 10, International Human Rights Day, at 4:30 p.m., groups from Hartford will gather at South Green Park (corner of Main and Park Streets) and march to the ICE offices at 450 Main Street to hold a rally calling for the release of the Parkville detainees and an end to ICE raids in Hartford.
Hartford has a history of welcoming immigrants from around the world as a much-needed source of labor, first during its earlier manufacturing years and more recently as employees in several service industries and in construction. There has been an obvious economic impact on Park Street related to the recent Parkville raids, as Brazilian businesses have seen a dramatic decrease in business and many Brazilian residents have left the city altogether, fearful that they might fall victim to additional ICE raids. Not only have ICE raids increased fear among Brazilian residents, but among other immigrant communities in Hartford as well.
These raids strike fear into our neighbors, said Frank OGorman of People of Faith CT. We dont want any Hartford residents to fear that they will be taken from their home, separated from their family and thrown into jail. We never want what happened in Parkville to happen again. The ICE raids are not a solution that we are willing to accept. We are calling for a moratorium on all ICE raids until our nations leaders can pass fair and humane immigration reform that ensures that we can all feel safe in our communities.
Groups that co-sponsoring the event include the American Friends Service Committee, Hartford Areas Rally Together, Hartford Organizing for Power and Equality H.O.P.E., Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice, Connecticut Center for a New Economy, Stop the Raids, Trinity College, CT Jobs with Justice, CT People of Faith, National Lawyers Guild CT Chapter, Capitol Community College SDS, Unidad Latina en Accin of New Haven, Latinos Against the War, Queers Without Borders, Campaign to Stop the ICE Raids in Danbury, Voluntown Peace Trust, CT Transadvocacy Coalition, Free People's Movement, and ANSWER CT.
Hartford has a history of welcoming immigrants from around the world as a much-needed source of labor, first during its earlier manufacturing years and more recently as employees in several service industries and in construction. There has been an obvious economic impact on Park Street related to the recent Parkville raids, as Brazilian businesses have seen a dramatic decrease in business and many Brazilian residents have left the city altogether, fearful that they might fall victim to additional ICE raids. Not only have ICE raids increased fear among Brazilian residents, but among other immigrant communities in Hartford as well.
These raids strike fear into our neighbors, said Frank OGorman of People of Faith CT. We dont want any Hartford residents to fear that they will be taken from their home, separated from their family and thrown into jail. We never want what happened in Parkville to happen again. The ICE raids are not a solution that we are willing to accept. We are calling for a moratorium on all ICE raids until our nations leaders can pass fair and humane immigration reform that ensures that we can all feel safe in our communities.
Groups that co-sponsoring the event include the American Friends Service Committee, Hartford Areas Rally Together, Hartford Organizing for Power and Equality H.O.P.E., Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice, Connecticut Center for a New Economy, Stop the Raids, Trinity College, CT Jobs with Justice, CT People of Faith, National Lawyers Guild CT Chapter, Capitol Community College SDS, Unidad Latina en Accin of New Haven, Latinos Against the War, Queers Without Borders, Campaign to Stop the ICE Raids in Danbury, Voluntown Peace Trust, CT Transadvocacy Coalition, Free People's Movement, and ANSWER CT.