Betray the Age...Week 5

Betraying the Age Samantha...in her own words (w/ special appeal)

Dear NY Faith & Justice Friends and Family, Meet Samantha...In Her Own Words Samantha McLane Alejos is an immigrant from Mexico. She has been in the United States for three years. For the past year he has worked in the New York office of Bread for the World, an organization that advocates for hungry people. Bread is also organizational partner with NY Faith & Justice. I met Samantha at the July 2009 Bread for the World National Gathering in Washington DC. After I spoke on Hunger and Biblical Peace, Samantha came up to let me know she was moved and wanted to know how she could get involved with NYFJ back in NYC. Samantha started as a volunteer in our Food Justice work, but within months transitioned into the leader of our Immigration Reform initiatives. Meet Samantha... Lisa: After months of working with NYFJ on food justice, you approached me and asked to work on Immigration Reform. What motivated you to focus on Immigration, in particular? Samantha: I am an immigrant. So, I am directly affected by the issue. I am here legally, but I know people who are suffering under the current broken system. I came here with my husband to seek opportunity. There are others who do not have the same opportunity as me and it is not right. They are not fairly judged. They are not fairly treated. Immigration is just part of people's development. Some people decide to migrate. Some people decide not to. America exports its culture to Mexico through products and media, but then when we want to come, they say, "Oh, no." People don't choose the level of opportunities they have. Systems do that for them. In Mexico, we don't have the same options and I don't think that's fair. You need to provide for yourself and your family a job, a house, an education, food. If you can not do that in your own place, you are free and able to move to a different city, state, or to a different country. When you can not feed your children, there is no decision there. You just have to move. It is necessity. So, when people choose to migrate it is to seek better opportunities. But if an immigration system is not well constructed, you are cutting off the ability of people to use their skills, knowledge, and talents. When we move here, we contribute in many ways; by working, paying taxes, and developing the region. Everyone is affected by this. I know a couple who has been here for 8 years. They learned English and are working contributors to the U.S. economy, but they have not seen their family in Mexico for 8 years because they are afraid they will be deported or not allowed back in the country. This is complicated by the fact that they have two children now. Lisa: What do you say to people who would say, "Yeah, but they broke the law. Law-breakers should be afraid. They should be fearful of being deported at any minute because they are hereillegally." What do you say to that? Samantha: Sometimes laws do not correspond with reality or morality. It's not like they broke the law because they wanted to. It is because it is the only thing to do when you are running from poverty, when you are running from hunger. So, when the law denies an opportunity to eat, to have an education, to have a job, then it is an immoral law. If they say that, I would say, "What kind of laws are we making?" March 2010 was NY Faith & Justice Immigration Reform Month. Samantha's House Party Tool-kits were downloaded and used by communities across NYC and across the country. Recently, there has been a storm of activity in the Immigration Reform debate. We've updated the kits to address the situation as it is right now. Join us. There are lots of ways you can do one small act today: Download Immigration House Party Toolkit Today.Contact Samantha at smclane@nfyaithjustice.org to get the Jeopardy Game sent to you via email. Sojourners just unveiled it's Summer Movie Guide "REEL Images of Immigration Reform". One of the films they feature, The Visitor, was inspired by the detention center visitation ministry at The Riverside Church, an organizational partner of NY Faith & Justice! New Yorkers of faith, it's time to voice your opinion on the Cordoba House controversy. If you don't, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh will gladly do it for you. World Magazine recently and asked for my opinion. Check it out! Tune in on the radio to hear me spread the word about the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform TODAY (8/12/10) @ 11:30am on KWWJ-AM (Houston, TX) and Next Thursday (8/19/10) @ 5:20pm on KJSL-AM (St. Louis, MO). Finally, there's one more important way you can help betray the lies of our age. Become a member, renew your membership, or a become a financial partner with NY Faith & Justice. NY Faith & Justice only has two weeks left to raise $25,000 in new and renewed individual financial partnerships to helpmake our work possible. Recently, we were presented with the opportunity to secure NYC office space in our own name, and all it would take is $6000 for the year! Your generous contribution would help provide a base from which to grow the movement for years to come. Please contribute now. Plus, anyone who gives $50 or more in the course of a year is a member. If you haven't renewed your membership, now is the time. If you've been waiting to give, right now is the time! Betray the age and contribute just $50, $100, $300, $500, $1000 or more to the work of NY Faith & Justice. ***All who give just $10/mth or more through automatic electronic payments will receive a complimentary NY Faith & Justice T-Shirt! Don't forget to use the "Designation" box on the online giving page to indicate your size and let us know if you want a male or female cut. NOTE: If you prefer not to give online you can send checks made payable to "FCNY/NY Faith & Justice" to: NY Faith & Justice c/o Partnership 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 500 New York, NY 10115 Thank you for your continued prayers and partnership and don't forget to follow us on , , the nyfj blog or the nyfj calendar for up to the minute action alerts, program changes, and details. Engage, Lisa Sharon Harper Co-founder and Executive Director New York Faith & Justice

Stand with Arizona...by Marching in New York!

On July 29th, Arizona intends to legalize racial profiling with a new law known as SB1070. New Yorkers along with the rest of the nation will be rallying to resist this law and the nation will be rallying to resist this law and to call for an end to the mass detention and deportation of immigrants.

On this day immigrants and their allies will march accross the iconic Brooklyn Bridge in solidarity with Arizona in the spirit of bridging borders and uniting cultures to demand:

• Policies that affirm Family Unity, Due Process and Fairness
• That local law enforcement in Arizona and across the country focus on protecting our communities, not destroying them
• That President Obama and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immediately halt the Criminal Alien Program, Secure Communities, 287(g), and all partnerships between ICE and local law enforcement

WHEN:

Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 9:30am

WHERE:

Gather at Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn at 9:30am to March (take A/C trains to High Street, OR 2/3/4/5/R trains

to Borough Hall) and assemble at 11:30am Foley Square, Manhattan for Rally (4/5 to Brooklyn Bridge OR

N/R/W to City hall)

WHO IS MARCHING:

YOU, all people of conscience who want to raise their voice for immigrant justice

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN THE MARCH ON JULY 29th CONTACT:

Families for Freedom (646-290-5551), Churches United to Save and Heal (718-469-8900), New York New Sanctuary Coalition (646-395-2925)

SPONSORED BY: Churches United to Save and Heal (CUSH),

Families for Freedom (FFF), American Friends Service

Committee‐NJ (AFSC), New York New Sanctuary Coalition

(NYNSC), Immigrant Defense Project (IDP), Wind of the

Spirit, The Black Institute, & Northern Manhattan Coalition

for Immigrant Rights (NMCIR)

Faith Leaders Immigration Reform Sign-On Letter

Sign-On Comprehensive Immigration Reform An Open Letter to President Barack Obama

Dear Friends and Members of NY Faith & Justice, It's not too late to sign on! The deadline has been extended to THIS FRIDAY. Plus, signatures are not limited to clergy. Lay leaders within faith communities are welcome to sign on. So far, about 400 faith leaders have signed on, including people from across the nation who represent every major religion in the U.S. Personally, I've been encouraged by the enthusiastic response from my own faith community. So far Rev. Jim Wallis, Shane Claiborne, Rev. Gabriel Salguero, Rev. Joel Hunter, Dr. David Gushee, Rev. Richard Cizik, Rev. Michael Mata, Rev. Rich Nathan, Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung, Rev. Tony Campolo, Noel Castellanos, Brian McLaren, Ben Lowe and many others have signed on. If you haven't signed on, it's not too late. Please join us then forward the list to your friends! **To sign on, please email your name, organizational affiliation, city and state tosignon@nyinterfaithimmigration.org by Wednesday, June 2, close of business. In Faith & Justice, Lisa Sharon Harper Co-founder and Executive Director NY Faith & Justice

An Open Letter to President Barack Obama from America's Faith Community Leaders Dear President Obama: In your objections to Arizona's new immigration law, you rightly called on Congress to act swiftly to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. As leaders of our nation's diverse faith communities, we are united by our commitment to an America that is both safe and just. We echo your call to Senate Republicans and Democrats to negotiate and produce a bipartisan immigration reform bill this year. To move the process forward, we ask that you make immigration reform a priority in the months ahead, using all the tools available to your office. We also ask that you convene a bipartisan summit on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We believe this summit is necessary for lawmakers to discuss common and differing viewpoints on structuring the legislation. It would also fulfill your pledge to all Americans to provide workable solutions that fix our broken immigration system. America needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform that both protects our interests and abides by our values. As Americans and people of faith, we are strongly committed to the safety and security of our nation, policies that ensure economic prosperity, and fair labor practices for all workers. We celebrate our commitments to the rule of law; equal protection under the law; and our rich immigrant heritage. Together these commitments make America what it is today--a global beacon of opportunity and hope. The passage of Arizona's new immigration law highlights a failure of our federal government to enact reform. State-based solutions place an unrealistic burden on police officers and divert substantial resources from their primary responsibility to protect us from crime. Comprehensive Immigration Reform that provides a path to citizenship would decrease racial profiling, keep families together, and increase tax revenue. A 2009 study by the Cato Institute found that legalization of low-skilled workers would boost the incomes of American workers and households by $180 billion over ten years. Many of us minister daily to individuals and communities adversely impacted by our broken system. We are convinced that America cannot afford to delay Comprehensive Immigration Reform; that our safety, our economy, and our most cherished ideals are at stake. The teachings of our nation's diverse religious traditions require action now! The Hebrew Bible tells us: " And if a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord, your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)." In the New Testament, Jesus calls us to welcome the immigrant, saying "for what you do to the least of these who are members of my family, you do unto me (Matthew 25:40)." The Qur'an requires us to "serve God, and be good to ...neighbors who are familiar and near... the companion by your side and the traveler that you meet... (4: 36)." The Hindu scripture Taitiriya Upanishad reminds us, "The guest is a representative of God (1.11.2)." Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human Sikh Guru, guided us to "recognize the human race as one." Our nation is blessed by a broad diversity of religious traditions. We are Baha'is, Buddhists, and Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs and more. We worship in different ways, but we are united in our affirmation of the Golden Rule: Treat others in the way that you yourself want to be treated. Our current system is a transgression of these shared teachings and of American values. Comprehensive Immigration Reform is a moral imperative for our nation. Mr. President, we urge you to heed our call to conscience. The well-being of America and the lives of immigrants, our families and our children hang in the balance. Signed Name, Affiliation

Second Immigration Rally and Act of Civil Disobedience

Join us this Monday 5/24 at 26 Federal Plaza (Broadway side) at noon for the 2nd rally + nonviolent civil disobedience action in NYC. There will be over 20 people signed up to participate in the CD, including Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, and many labor, faith and community leaders! These escalations are part of a national wave of escalation actions in Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington DC, Miami, Milwaukee, and other cities.

PLEASE mobilize and come out to 26 Federal Plaza on Monday at 12noon!

-->If you/anyone you know wants to participate in the CD, please contact Gabriela (212-627-2227 x229 or GVillareal@thenyic.org) today for more details and important legal information
-->Here is the facebook event link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120486754652932. RSVP and spread the word!

-->***PLEASE NOTE: The 3rd Escalation Action, originally slated for Monday 5/31, has been moved to Tuesday 6/1 because of several logistical issues. 

Immigration Reform Rally & Civil Disobedience

Monday May 17th: RALLY followed by DIRECT ACTION Where: 26 Federal Plaza, Manhattan Time: 12noon Message: President Obama: Stop the flow of deportations and enact humane Immigration Reform now. Led by clergy, this direct action will escalate our unified call for an end to the deportations and the enactment of humane immigration reform. The moral crisis in immigrant communities demands real leadership and concrete action from President and elected officials. We aim for this action to show our courage in this fight and to lift up the unquestionable moral authority for the call for just and humane immigration reform. Faith leaders, elected officials, labor leaders, community leaders are invited to participate. This action is taking place in coordination with immigrant communities across the nation who are escalating pressure for an end to the crises we see each day because of our broken immigration system. A training with the Center for Constitutional Rights will be available for participants prior to the action. If you want to commit to participate, email Frances (FLiu@thenyic.org) . Direct action participants must be US Citizens. Click here for legal briefing materials on participation in civil disobedience.

Let Your Voice Be Heard on Immigration Reform

NY Faith & Justice

2010 Immigration Reform Campaign: Call in Script

General tips:

1. Call the Capital switchboard (202) 224-3121, and ask for Senator Schumer's office.

2. Introduce yourself, say you are a New York State resident and that you are calling to

request action on immigration reform from your senator.

3. Say the message.

4. Draft talking points if you feel confident in amplifying your request.

5. If no one picks up and you need to leave a voice message then leave your name, your state of residence and the message and phone number if you wish to be called back to give additional information.

Hi, my name is _________, I am a voter in New York state and am representing New York Faith and Justice. I am calling, first to thank Senator Schumer for working on a framework for immigration reform along with Sen. Graham. Secondly, I encourage him to push the introduction of a bill this year. We need immigration reform that protects American interests without threatening American values.

This bill is a chance to enact real immigration reform and to end our failed enforcement-only strategies. It also represents an opportunity to fix our nation's economy by turning undocumented immigrants into tax-paying citizens and prosecuting employers who exploit undocumented workers.

As people of faith, we call on Senator Schumer to exercise strong leadership as he introduces reform that protects our borders and creates a path to full citizenship for undocumented immigrants.*

Thank you.

*If you are an Evangelical Christian, you should close with this strong statement.

As an Evangelical Christian, I call on Senator Schumer to exercise strong leadership by introducing reform that protects our borders and creates a path to full citizenship for illegal immigrants.

2010 Immigration Reform Campaign: Call in Script

[Date]

Senator Chuck Schumer

United States Senate

313 Hart Senate Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: Introduce Comprehensive Immigration Reform that Reflects Both our Interests and our Values

Dear Senator Schumer:

I am writing today as a representative of New York Faith & Justice. We thank you for working on a framework for immigration reform along with Senator Graham.

My [write your faith tradition here] faith teaches me that we should live in the light, and not in the shadows. A clear pathway to legalization and citizenship allows 12 million people in this country to come out of the shadows and contribute fully to the rich immigrant tradition of the United States. It is vital also to secure our border in order to keep our Nation secured.

I believe that immigration reform can, must, and will happen this year, but only with your strong leadership. Congress must work this year to enact meaningful reform because virtually every aspect of our immigration system remains in crisis.

We need Comprehensive Immigration Reform that helps our nation's economic recovery by providing a path to earned citizenship for the 12 million or more undocumented people living and working in the U.S. It must turn undocumented immigrants into tax paying citizens who contribute to our rich culture and help build a robust economy. Reform must also relieve the visa backlogs that are slowly and tediously tearing families apart. Finally, Comprehensive Immigration Reform must adjust the way we admit foreign workers to this country and correct the structural injustices within immigration courts and detention.

2010 is the year for immigration reform, but this cannot become a reality without your leadership. With this letter, I urge you to stand with your colleagues and constituents by introducing a tough, practical, and fair Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that protects American interests without threatening

American values.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Address]

Yesterday We Marched, Today We Act

by Samantha McLane

Despite being a Sunday, Washington, D.C. had a very busy day. Around 200,000 people marched throughout the capital to call for comprehensive reform to the U.S. Immigration system. Men, women, and children stood and marched for hours hearing a variety of speakers while singing and echoing phrases of hope and action. Families and individuals came from all over the country, some traveling for days, others for hours, but all went to the capital to deliver one very clear and direct message: President Obama must keep his promise to deliver Immigration reform this year!

New York Faith and Justice members were there too! Though an early morning bus ride and a late return provided little sleep, we stood i

n solidarity with the thousand of others in our call for justice.

So what is next? We realize that not only support is needed but action is needed as well. We need to keep reminding our elected officials the purpose of this march, the purpose of all rallies and vigils that have been held in recent years, is to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill in this year. We cannot tolerate the separation of families and discrimination against hard working immigrants. It is important to write a letter, make a phone call, and meet with our members of Congress. We will not rest until action is done.

Thanks to all of you who came to the march and support this just cause!

**Samantha McLane is the NYFJ Immigration Reform Organizer