Chicago, IL – On May 25, the Committee Against Political Repression brought together 30 supporters of Carlos Montes to denounce the raid by the FBI and Los Angeles Sheriff. Gathering in front of the Federal Building in Chicago, despite a thunder storm, the press conference and rally included a number of speakers.

The first speaker was Jesus Guillen of the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign, the group that led the May 1st immigrant rights march in Chicago this year. Guillen said of Montes and the 23 anti-war activists subpoenaed by the grand jury in Chicago, “We cannot stay quiet; we have to demand the return of all property taken from Montes; that all charges have to be dropped against him and against all those who have been subpoenaed for fighting for justice in the U.S. and abroad.”

Alejandro Molina spoke next from the Boricua Human Rights Network, a human rights organization of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and their supporters. “Under Obama’s administration, there have been more attacks on dissidents and more deportations than under Bush. Also under President Obama, the parole for Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera has been denied.”

Magda Castaneda of the Comité Anti-Militarización (CAMi) an anti-war group from the Chicano and Latino community in Chicago, quoted Martin Luther King, “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Emma Lozano of Sin Fronteras, a leading organization in the immigrant rights movement also spoke. She demanded that the charges against Montes be dropped, and also that President Obama stop breaking apart the families of immigrant workers. Mark Clements of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty wrapped up the press conference. One of the innocent victims of Chicago Police torturer Jon Burge, Clements spent 17 years in prison after a confession was tortured out of him. Clements has been at every rally for the 23 anti-war activists targeted by the grand jury and U.S. Attorney Pat Fitzgerald, and called for the resistance to continue.

When the thunderstorm finally subsided, the crowd picketed and chanted, “One, two three four – FBI broke down the door. Five, six, seven, eight – Fight back before it’s too late.”

Video of Chicago press conference against raid of the home of Carlos Montes

#ChicagoIL #ImmigrantRights #InJusticeSystem #StateRepression #ChicanoLatino #EmmaLozano #CarlosMontes #SinFronteras #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #MoratoriumOnDeportationsCampaign #ComitéAntiMilitarización #BoriquaHumanRightsNetwork

The bell she referred to was a replica of the one that rang to start the Mexican revolution nearly 200 years ago. It was carried on the back of a pick-up truck through the streets in the middle of the crowd. Connie and Victor Parra, members of Local 73 Service Employees International Union (SEIU), brought it to Union Park that morning. “My mother was the head of the Mexican Independence Day committee in Chicago 20 years ago. The government of Mexico gave her the bell in recognition of her efforts on behalf of our community,” explained Mrs. Parra.

The ringing of the bell was accompanied through the march by chants of, “Que queremos? Amnistia! Cuando? Ahora!” [“What do we want? Amnesty! When do we want it? Now!”]

Debate in Washington

Father Marcos, another organizer for the march, said he knew of children in his parish that were alone at home, with no food in the house, because their parents had both been deported.

Congressman Luis Gutierrez addressed the rally, condemning the raids on immigrants that are being carried out by the Department of Homeland Security, through its Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm. “President Bush can't have it both ways. He can't claim to favor legalization for the undocumented immigrants on the one hand, and then carry out raids, deporting workers and breaking up families.”

Gutierrez wants Bush to cease until the Congress completes its debate on the different legislation that has been adopted by the House and the Senate. The House bill, called the Sensenbrenner Bill or HR4437, was the vicious attack that started the protest movement this spring. It would make all undocumented workers criminals, as well as anyone who aids them. The Senate bill is less severe, but it falls far short of the demands of the mass movement that seeks amnesty for all undocumented workers.

Next Steps

Jose Artemio Arreola, a co-chair of the March 10th Movement, was present at the rally as well. The coalition of local organizations has recently announced plans for a national conference to be held in Chicago Aug. 11-13. This conference will be devoted to continuing the struggle. “We don't support any of the bills in Washington,” commented Arreola, “but we want the politicians to listen to us. We will tell them what the people need: No deportations, no guest worker program and legalization for all. After we have that, we need a visa procedure that grants immigrant workers full labor rights.”

Already there are plans underway for another massive mobilization in Chicago for the week around Labor Day, the U.S. holiday for workers. “From International Workers Day to U.S. Labor Day, immigrant workers continue to demand full equality,” concluded Arreola.

#ChicagoIL #News #ChicanoLatino #immigrantRights #JoseArtemioArreola #SensenbrennerBill #EmmaLozano #March10Movement