St. Paul, MN – More than 40 immigrant rights activists from all over the state of Minnesota rallied at the capitol here, February 11, the opening day of the legislative session. People traveled from as far as Zimmerman and Rochester to participate in the action. The rally and lobbying action were organized by Minnesota Immigrant Movement (MIM) and Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Activists asked the Minnesota legislature to support driver’s licenses for all and to make Minnesota a sanctuary state.

Dressed in red, MIM and MIRAC members rallied in the rotunda of the capitol, calling on representatives to pass legislation that would allow all people, including undocumented immigrants, to take the driver test and get a license. Activists marched from the rotunda to the doors of the senate chanting “What do we want? Driver's licenses! When do we want it? Now!” and “¿Qué es lo que queremos? ¡Licencias! ¿Cuando es lo que queremos? ¡Ahora!” The protesters even received support from other groups gathered at the capitol as they were inspired to cheer them on and join in on the rally.

Activists with MIM first started mobilizing community members around the Driver’s Licenses for All campaign in 2008. They argue that allowing people wider access to licenses has far-reaching benefits. Drivers and passengers will be safer on the road if all people have the ability to take the driver’s test and learn the state’s laws. Having a driver’s license as a form of identification also allows families better access to basic services such as renting an apartment, opening a bank account and paying bills. Last year a driver’s license bill passed in the Minnesota House but failed to pass the Senate.

After the rally, MIRAC and MIM members lobbied individual senators asking them for their support of a driver’s license bill. Some lawmakers think the bill might not pass due to the Republican majority in the senate, but activists and community members will continue fighting until all Minnesotans have access to driver's licenses.

But the fight will not end with just driver’s licenses. After pressuring leaders to make Minneapolis a sanctuary city, MIRAC activists and other immigrant rights groups continue fighting to make Minnesota a sanctuary state. “Sanctuary” typically implies that a municipality will refuse to collaborate with ICE, therefore giving sanctuary or safety from deportation to undocumented immigrants. MIRAC members will continue to lobby their representatives to support their Sanctuary State platform which includes driver’s licenses for all, ending ICE detention, no data sharing with ICE, divestment from border militarization, access to health care benefits for immigrants, and expanding resources for refugees and immigrants in Minnesota.

#SaintPaulMN #PeoplesStruggles #driversLicence

Saint Paul, MN – Hundreds of immigrants and supporters filled the Minnesota State Capitol on February 28 for the first committee hearing of House File 1500, the ‘drivers license for all’ bill. The hearing room quickly filled to capacity, as did two overflow rooms. After more than two hours of public testimony and debate, the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee voted to pass the bill and refer it to the House Ways and Means Committee for the next step in the process.

Today’s hearing and vote is the first of several steps for immigrants to win the right to a drivers license in Minnesota. HF1500 is the House bill to restore driver's licenses for all Minnesotans of age regardless of immigration status. There is not yet a Senate companion bill, but democrat Representative Ryan Winkler said in the hearing that they are working closely with senators to move the process forward in the Senate too.

HF1500 would allow Minnesota residents to apply for a drivers license regardless of their immigration status. This was allowed in Minnesota until 2003 when then-Governor Tim Pawlenty changed the rules. Currently, undocumented immigrants who live in the state can’t get a drivers license. This leads to many problems with the police and ICE such as fines, arrests and deportations while driving kids to school or medical appointments or going to work.

After over a decade of frustrated attempts to pass a drivers license bill in Minnesota, last November’s election results have brought a renewed push. The new democrat Governor Tim Walz has expressed support, as has the Democratic leadership in the Minnesota House. HF1500 is sponsored by House Majority Leader Winkler.

Many community organizations have joined together this year in the Freedom to Drive MN campaign to fight for the right to a drivers license. The large turnout at the hearing reflects a deeply felt need among immigrants and their families in Minnesota for the right to drive without fear of jail or deportation.

Several community members gave testimony to the committee about the profound need for a drivers license in immigrant communities, including Victor Ramírez-Juárez of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and Maria Cisneros, who was one of the initiators of the drivers license movement in Minnesota more than a decade ago.

While the Democrats control the Minnesota House, Republicans still control the Senate. So immigrant rights movement leaders are prepared for a more difficult battle there, but confident that with mass mobilization victory is possible.

#SaintPaulMN #PeoplesStruggles #driversLicence #MIRAc #HF1500

Saint Paul, MN – As the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives voted on a bill, May 17, to change Minnesota drivers license to comply with the federal government’s REAL ID security program, immigrant rights activists were there demanding that the politicians keep anti-immigrant politics out of the bill.

The protesters carried signs with messages such as “Access to drivers licenses is a human right!” “Representative Smith: Keep anti-immigrant politics out of SF 3589!” and “Dump the Trump-style agenda in REAL ID!”

Immigrant rights activists have fought for many years in Minnesota for immigrants to have the right to get a state drivers license. Current state law doesn’t allow it, so an estimated 100,000 undocumented immigrants in the state must risk arrest and deportation for driving without a license in order to get to work or take children to school, due to the inadequacy of public transit.

The campaign for drivers license equality continues this year, but it is complicated by the federal Department of Homeland Security bullying the state into complying with REAL ID. A REAL ID-compliant license is not available to immigrants.

The federal government is threatening Minnesotans with serious repercussions, like not allowing Minnesota’s drivers license to be used as valid ID in airports or government buildings, if the state drivers license is not brought into compliance with the federal REAL ID guidelines. In a prior legislative session, the Minnesota legislature voted overwhelmingly in a bipartisan vote to refuse to comply with REAL ID because of privacy concerns around people’s private data being shared with the federal government through REAL ID. Under arm-twisting from the federal government, the Minnesota legislature repealed their anti-REAL ID bill earlier this year.

The struggle now is over how a REAL ID-compliant license will be implemented in Minnesota. The bill passed in the Democrat-controlled senate leaves open the possibility of Minnesota following California and a dozen other states to create a second, non-REAL ID compliant version of the state drivers license which would be available to immigrants living in the state that could only be used for driving, but not for federal identification for airports, government buildings, and the like.

On May 17, the House Republican majority passed their version of the bill, which contains language that explicitly prohibits undocumented immigrants from getting any Minnesota drivers license. The Senate bill does not exclude that possibility.

On May 19, a conference committee met to negotiate a compromise between the House and Senate bills. As of May 19 they reportedly have not decided about whether the anti-immigrant language will be included in the final bill that goes to the governor.

Members of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) were at the capitol on May 19 to express their opposition to the House version of the bill, which includes the anti-immigrant provisions.

According to MIRAC member Julio Martinez, “We call on the legislature to stop this Trump-style anti-immigrant agenda and instead to recognize the basic human rights of our community who work and live in Minnesota. We want drivers license access for all in Minnesota.”

#SaintPaulMN #driversLicence #MIRAc #REALID

SF224/HF97 would allow anyone who lives in Minnesota to apply for a drivers license regardless of their immigration status. Currently undocumented immigrants who live in the state can’t get a drivers license. This leads to many problems with the police and ICE such as fines, arrests and deportations.

During the hearing, the Senate author of the bill, Bobby Jo Champion, proposed an amendment to his bill to add a marking on the back of the license to say “for driving only” so that people can’t use the license for anything else. The committee approved that amendment. A Republican on the committee, Eric Pratt, proposed another amendment to move that marking to the front of the license. But the committee voted against that amendment, so the bill stays for now with the marking on the back.

Many organizations in Minnesota are fighting for the right to a drivers license and mobilized to pack the hearing. Two of the main groupings are the One State One License Coalition, which is fighting for an unmarked drivers license, and the Safe Roads Coalition. The large turnout at the hearing reflects a deeply felt need among immigrants in Minnesota for the right to drive without fear of jail or deportation.

Activists had to push the politicians to even get a hearing scheduled for the drivers license bill this year. The politicians finally agreed just under the wire, with the first hearing held just one day before the March 20 hearing deadline.

The bill’s next hearing is on March 25 at 12:15 pm in the State Office Building. The One State One License Coalition, the Safe Roads Coalition and other organizations are all mobilizing for a large turnout to this key hearing in the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee. This is the first hearing in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, so immigrant rights movement leaders are prepared for a more difficult battle there, but confident that with mass mobilization victory is possible. If the bill passes the House and Senate transportation committees, there would be at least one more committee hearing before the bill would reach the full House and Senate for a vote and then be sent to Governor Mark Dayton.

#SaintPaulMN #driversLicence #OneStateOneLicenseCoalition

Tampa, FL – A dozen people came together here, Feb. 26, to confront the city council and demand its members support drivers licenses for the undocumented. Alicia Gazga led the rally and chanted, “City council, shame on you!” and “What do we want? Licenses! When do we want them? Now!”

“We were standing in the cold right outside the city council windows, demanding that they hear us out,” said Michela Martinazzi of the Tampa Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR). “The city council members and their aides were there too, they even stared down at us but ignored us and ignored our demands!”

Feb. 26 marks the one-year anniversary of when the first protest against Tampa city council on this issue took place. The protests were called by Raíces en Tampa to pressure the city council to publicly support drivers licenses being issued to the undocumented. The first protest in 2014 was called to pressure the city council to even meet with Raíces en Tampa.

“Back in 2014, Tampa city council and their aides refused to even return our phone calls to meet with us,” said Marisol Marquez of Raíces en Tampa. “After the protest, they began to call us back and we even met with six of the seven council members.”

During a public city council meeting, Raíces en Tampa tried to put their resolution up for a vote. City council meetings occur on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m., which are nearly impossible for most workers to attend. Over 20 community members took time off of work anyway to attend this meeting and publicly expressed to the city council why they should vote in favor of the resolution. Led by Councilman Charlie Miranda, the Tampa city council simply would respond with, “Thank you,” after every community member spoke in favor of the resolution. Not documented on the minutes of the public meeting, at one point Councilman Mike Suarez silenced Raíces en Tampa member Marisol Marquez who to their faces, reminded city council they had indeed, met with Raíces en Tampa when they lied and said they did not.

Some of the groups present with Raíces en Tampa were the Tampa CSFR, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society and the Student/Farmworker Alliance.

“My mom was driving with an expired license,” says Alicia Gazga. “She was pulled over and was asked for her license and insurance. The cop told her that her insurance was not active, when it was. Then the cop told her to step out of the car, to call someone to pick up my two-year-old sister because she [the mother] was going to jail. When I came to pick her up my mom was already handcuffed and on the back of the cop car. My sister was terrified crying. No mother should she put in that situation!”

Next steps for Raíces en Tampa include organizing for International Worker's Day – which will occur on May 1, 2015. There, Raíces en Tampa will organize for drivers licenses to be issued to the undocumented in Florida and for deportations to stop. Be sure to follow them and their upcoming events here: http://facebook.com/RaicesEnTampa

#TampaFL #driversLicence #RaicesEnTampa

Los Angeles, CA – The El Sereno community in East Los Angeles came out to protest another police checkpoint May 24. Mexican, Chicano and Central American residents, most of whom are immigrants, challenged the second LAPD checkpoint in the area this month. Residents felt targeted by the LAPD Traffic Division as this checkpoint was on Huntington Drive, located in the heart of the community, near a major market.

On May 2, local residents and the Centro CSO protested a similar checkpoint (at Huntington and Poplar) and were successful in helping many residents avoid getting their car impounded, to the dismay of LAPD and the local Official Police Garage Association tow company. Members of the Official Police Garage Association reap millions in profits from car impounds and often make donations to local politicians.

In January 2015 the Department of Motor Vehicles will make California driver’s license available to the undocumented, and the millions of dollars generated by car impounds will dry up.

For years, the Community Service Organization (CSO) has pointed out that police target Mexican/Chicano communities, where the majority undocumented immigrants with no driver’s licenses as easy prey for car confiscations. Centro CSO, with many other organizations such as Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamerica, fought for California driver’s license for the undocumented for years. Now that licenses are finally coming, the police – especially the LA Sheriff’s Department in league with the Official Police Garage Association – are trying to make as much money as they can.

#LosAngelesCA #immigrantRights #driversLicence #LAPD #ChicanoMovement #checkpointProtest

Saint Paul, MN – More than three hundred Latino immigrants and supporters rallied in the Capitol rotunda and marched to Governor Dayton’s office March 26 to press Governor Dayton and House Speaker Paul Thissen to pass HF348, the bill for drivers licenses for all. The rally was organized by Mesa Latina and supported broadly by the immigrant rights movement.

Currently undocumented immigrants cannot get drivers licenses in Minnesota, though they can in several other states. Due to extreme weather and inadequate public transportation, the thousands of immigrants that live in Minnesota are forced to drive for everyday tasks, like getting to work and taking children to school. Many of the immigrants that are deported and separated from their families first get ensnared in the criminal justice system when they are stopped for driving without a license. Once in the criminal justice system, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intervenes and starts deportation proceedings against many people who have done nothing more than drive to work.

The Minnesota Senate passed the bill last legislative session, so only the House needs to pass it and the governor would need to sign it. Governor Dayton’s lack of support has stalled the bill. Governor Dayton is a Democrat and the House is under Democratic control, but so far they are still refusing to move on this bill even though it is the highest priority at the State Capitol for the immigrant rights movement this year.

At the start of the rally a group of Aztec dancers performed along with booming drums that echoed loudly throughout the Capitol building. Speakers included several religious leaders and state legislators such as Patricia Torres Ray, Karen Clark, Sandy Pappas and Melisa Franzen who pledged to fight to pass the drivers license bill. Mesa Latina member Francisco Segovia announced that the next major mobilization in the campaign will be a march to the Capitol at 3:00 p.m. on May 1, International Workers Day, to demand drivers licenses for all and an increase in the minimum wage. Union leader Cherrene Horazuk, president of AFSCME Local 3800 spoke to show labor movement support for drivers licenses for immigrants. She said, “Corporations are given the right to cross borders in order to exploit workers to the greatest extent. Why then shouldn’t workers have the right to travel and cross borders to be able to feed, clothe, and house their families? It is a basic right to be able to get to and from work free from fear. Criminalizing people who are just trying to get back and forth to work, or to the grocery store or to their kids school does not benefit anybody. We call upon Governor Dayton and the legislature to support licenses for all. No human being is illegal. We want licenses now!”

During her speech Rep. Karen Clark, the House sponsor of the drivers license bill, encouraged everyone to go to Governor Dayton’s office inside the Capitol to let him know he should support drivers licenses for immigrants. So when the speakers were done the crowd marched through the Capitol, pouring inside Dayton’s office and filling the hallway outside while chanting “si se puede!” and “Ole ole ole ole, drivers license!”. They then marched through the first and second floor of the Capitol.

Mesa Latina is encouraging people to sign the online petition to support the Drivers License bill, HF348. For more information on the drivers license campaign and the May 1 mobilization on International Workers Day follow MN Licencias Para Todos on facebook.

#SaintPaulMN #driversLicence #CherreneHorazuk #KarenClark #MesaLatina

Phoenix, AZ – Governor Jan Brewer delivered her business-as-usual State of the State address here on Jan. 13. Outside the capitol building, a crowd of nearly 100 students and community activists protested the “State of Hate” created by Arizona Republicans. Led by Citizens for a Better Arizona, a coalition of groups rallied, including Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) of Tucson.

The demonstration countered Governor Brewer’s right-wing agenda. The people’s rally held the Governor accountable for the neglect of over 6000 uninvestigated Child Protective Services abuse cases, protested the bigoted lawsuit of Attorney General Tom Horne against in-state tuition for undocumented students at Maricopa Community College, and called for an end to Governor Brewer’s ban on access to driver’s licenses for undocumented students – the Dreamers.

Students carried signs such as “Let Dreamers learn – education is a right!” SDS of Tucson challenged Attorney General Tom Horne’s threats of lawsuits against Arizona community colleges that offer tuition equity. Currently, undocumented students who grow up in Arizona and attend high school there are required to pay out-of-state tuition. This forces many to drop out and take low-paying jobs.

Ed Tolentino explained, “Tucson SDS really prepared to be a part of this action because of our commitment to equal access to education as a human right. The struggle for tuition equity is above all a struggle for equal educational opportunity for both documented and undocumented students, who, regardless of citizenship status, are humans. We hope to take this first action in demanding tuition equity in the direction of a larger student movement in which SDS can play an important role in fighting for equality on and off campus.”

Leaders held high an “Arizona GOP hate-meter”, detailing the Republican policies and Arizona laws that target Chicanos, Mexicanos, American Indians and others for repression. Arizona Republicans passed the infamous law known as SB-1070 that forced police to racially profile people based on “reasonable suspicion”. While the courts struck down most of SB-1070, the idea that some people and not others are “suspicious of looking illegal” was upheld. There is also the racist Sheriff Arpaio and his policy of raiding undocumented families in order to meet quotas for deportation and for-profit detention centers. Republicans continue to deny driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, despite the fact it harms everyone who drives or has auto insurance. In Arizona, national oppression of Chicanos is a major part of the Republican agenda.

After speeches, protesters burned driver’s licenses in solidarity with undocumented immigrants. Other protesters blocked the entrances and exits of the capitol, before deciding to pay a visit the governor’s office at the neighboring executive office building. Police attempted to deny access to Governor Brewer’s office, so a tense standoff developed. After a sharp verbal exchange, demonstrators surged passed the police to the elevators and rode up to the executive floor. State police were preparing to arrest them on the eighth floor, but protesters cleverly refused to exit the elevators and threw their stuffed animals – representing Arizona’s neglect of children and their education – at the feet of the arresting officers. The chants of “Stop the hate!” echoed through the capitol. State police, under the careful watch of Governor Brewer’s aides, took Elmo and his other furry friends into custody.

Tolentino, an organizer of the action said, “This protest proves the power of community and campus organizing. We hope that in the coming months an awakened Arizona rises to challenge the Republicans’ vicious attacks on the justice and dignity of its people.”

Organizers are claiming a victory in the wake of their protest. Governor Brewer announced in her speech that she was moving Child Protective Services out from under the authority of Department of Economic Security and giving it a stand-alone cabinet level position. The struggle for licenses and preserving tuition equity continues.

#PhoenixAZ #PeoplesStruggles #StudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #driversLicence #JanBrewer #Antiracism #TuitionEquity #CitizensForABetterArizona #TucsonSDS

Tampa, FL – On Dec 17, a new immigrant rights group, Raíces en Tampa, met with community members and students to launch a movement to demand driver licenses for undocumented immigrants in Florida.

Previous attempts to pass driver license bills in Florida had support, but still failed. In 2012, the Dream Act Driver License bill unanimously passed in the state legislature. However, Florida Governor Rick Scott brought it down with a veto.

Jared Hamil a member of Raíces en Tampa explained, “The Dream Act Driver License bill would have only been offered to those who currently receive Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.” Hamil continued, “DACA recipients already can obtain driver's licenses so this bill really did not affect anyone. We know this same bill is up for debate again in the 2014 legislative session and it is probably the one that will pass. So we are here as Raíces en Tampa to ensure we push for what 1.5 million undocumented immigrants need; not what the politicians will compromise with. We organize people, not politicians.”

Raíces en Tampa has decided to take this issue at full-force. Already tabling and flyering, Raíces en Tampa is uniting the community and groups across Florida by talking to people one on one. They created a Facebook page, Driver's Licenses for All Undocumented – Florida, attracting followers, including the popular band La Santa Cecilia.

“We are workers, students, and community members,” said Marisol Marquez, a member of Raíces en Tampa. “We are not paid to do what we do and we do not have the money to lobby in the Capitol in Tallahassee. We are everyday people who are committed to connecting the people locally to take action. We are teaching others in different cities of Florida to do the same.”

Raíces en Tampa's meeting was filled with bright ideas and enthusiasm. There was talk about similar groups, non-profits and organizations taking on the issue of driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

“I believe the time is now. If we as Raíces en Tampa don't do it who will?” says Alicia Argeñal of Raíces en Tampa “We know that in Florida, before we decided to take this campaign on, no one was touching it. Lobbyists in Tallahassee were not bringing this issue home to everyday people. I myself do it because it affects me. I do it for me, for my brothers, sisters and future generations in the state of Florida.”

Raíces en Tampa was founded on Aug. 29, 2013 and is gaining momentum. The list of groups signing on to the campaign for drivers licenses for all includes both Florida and national groups: Raíces en Tampa, United Families in Miami; Consulado Mexicano – Orlando; DREAMers Moms from Orlando, Miami, Dallas, Arizona, and Utah; Students for a Democratic Society; League of United Latin American Citizens and Young American Dreamers. The list continues to grow.

If you wish to join the campaign, be sure to visit: http://facebook.com/dl4allflorida, and stay tuned. If you have a photo you wish to submit to show support for Driver's Licenses for All Undocumented – Florida, email it to raicesentampa@gmail.com.

#TampaFL #driversLicence #RaicesEnTampa

Los Angeles, CA – A mass rally and march was held in Huntington Park, May 15, in support of SB1160 – a bill that allows undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. Several groups organized the march, including the Mexican American Political Association, Centro CSO and Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas. The festive event kicked off with music and speakers at Salt Lake Park and then began marching on Florence Avenue in the heart of the city. The march received enthusiastic support from pedestrians and motorists as it entered Pacific Avenue, the main shopping district, with the public yelling and clapping to show support. A rally was held at the civic center with music by the popular Mexican Norteno singers. The speakers hit hard at Governor Schwarzenegger and the racists Republicans who forced the repeal of a similar bill late last year.

A series of marches and rallies were held statewide during April and May, to support the drivers license bill. The marches were organized by working-class Mexican and Chicano organizations like Hermandad Mexicana in Santa Ana and CentroAzteca in San Jose.

There are currently millions of undocumented workers who drive to work, school, hospitals and markets without licenses due to the current requirement of proof of legal residency to apply for a drivers license. It is common to see immigrant workers ticketed and having their cars impounded and be forced to buy another car and continue the cycle.

The new bill requires a written and driving test along with a background check, photo and fingerprinting.

Racist attacks against immigrants, especially Mexicans in the Southwest, have increased since the 911 events, with Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft pushing repressive legislation like the Patriot Act and an increase in raids in Mexican communities. Across the U.S., the ‘war on terrorism’ is being used as a pretext to attack democratic rights for immigrants, including the right of undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses.

The current drivers license bill passed the transportation committee on a party line vote, with all the Democrats voting in favor and all the Republicans voting against. The bill must now go to the full State Senate and on to the Assembly before going to Governor Schwarzenegger.

Community organizations and unions are carrying on a petition and post card campaign to force Schwarzenegger to sign this bill.

#LosAngelesCA #News #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO #driversLicence #HermandadMexicana

Los Angeles, CA – Thousands of Latino workers, students and shopkeepers stayed away from work and school Dec. 12, in support of the statewide Latino Economic Strike. The Latino Economic boycott was called by the Mexican American Political Association and Hermandad Mexicana Latino Americana, with the support of hundreds of other organizations, to protest the repeal of SB 60, the law that allowed undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses.

The license law was passed in October 2003. It was later repealed by the new Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, under the threat of a right-wing led anti-license initiative.

Large demonstrations were held in San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego and other cities to support the strike. High numbers of students boycotted school from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Jose. Statewide, school districts reported high absentee rates. Los Angeles’s Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights had over 1700 students absent in support of the strike. 1500 workers at American Apparel, the largest apparel manufacturer in Los Angeles, shut down the plant for the day. Dec. 12 was also selected because it is the day Mexicans worldwide honor the religious Virgin de Guadalupe – the indigenous symbol of resistance to colonization and exploitation.

The successful strike energized the large Latino community throughout California and received wide support in many other states.

Action in East L.A.

The Centro CSO – Community Service Organization – led a march and rally in the heart of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, where many small businesses closed for the day. The march and rally was endorsed by Latinos Against War, SEIU Local 660, Roosevelt High School Revolutionary Students, Comite Pro Uno, Casa Bohemia Show on KPFK and L.A. ANSWER.

The march started at Prospect Park with a busting of a piñata of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mothers, families, workers and students marched, chanting “Yes to licenses, not to war! School not war!” and “Terminate the terminator.” The march was met by another group of 300 enthusiastic workers coming from La Placita. All the groups then rallied together and marched to downtown L.A. for another rally.

Another afternoon rally near Roosevelt High School included many more students and teachers who busted another piñata of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, striking a symbolic blow against racism, exploitation and imperialist war. The English and Spanish media covered the events extensively.

Struggle for Licenses

The struggle for licenses has lasted over six years and is an important demand for millions of undocumented workers who need to drive to work and school. Latino communities know too well the hardships of the constant ticketing by police, getting cars impounded and arrests. Latinos already face exploitation and hard racist conditions, including INS and police harassment, low paid jobs and bad living conditions – especially for recent immigrants without residency paperwork.

Finally, with the leadership of Hermandad Mexicana Latino Americana, its president Nativo Lopez and Senator Gil Cedillo (a former SEIU union leader), SB 60 was made into law during the state recall election of November 2003.

But the racist Republican Party and Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to repeal the new SB 60 law.

Under threat of a statewide ballot initiative to permanently outlaw drivers licenses for undocumented workers, an effort led by the right-wing racist Ron Price, Senator Cedillo agreed under pressure to repeal the law, with a verbal agreement for a new stricter version of the driver license legislation to be introduced in early 2004.

Some critics of the law bought the lie that this law would make it easier for terrorists to get identification.

New Power

The Latino and immigrant communities have now sensed the strength of their collective power and are demanding amnesty, legalization and equality, along with the demand for licenses. Moderate groups like CHIRLA (the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles) did not support the Latino Economic Strike.

Activists formed the Organizing Committee of Mexican Organizations, and have planned a major summit for the weekend of March 12-14, at Pitzer College in Los Angeles County. The purpose of the summit is to unite around a plan of action for demands, campaigns and a mass march on October 16, 2004. That date will commemorate the historic 1994, 150,000-person march by Latinos against the racist 187 initiative.

The Latino community is under attack by right-wingers like Ron Price and under constant threats from racist laws and deportations, as we become the scapegoats for the economic crisis and so-called threats of terrorism. But Latinos also have a long history of resistance against racism, war and exploitation. We Latinos will continue to fight back and provide the leadership and organization to build a powerful movement for self-determination!

Come and join us in the fight for equality, democracy and social justice for Latinos and all immigrants. Join us at Centro CSO: Community Service Organization, 511 Echandia Street, Los Angels, Ca 90033, (323) 221-4000, www.newcentrocso.org.

#LosAngelesCA #News #ChicanoLatino #LatinosAgainstWar #CentroCSO #MAPA #LatinoEconomicBoycott #SEIULocal660 #RooseveltHighSchoolRevolutionaryStudents #driversLicence #NativoLopez