Salt Lake City, Utah – Activists gathered here, July 16, for an emergency action outside the National Governors’ Association Conference, protesting the Grand America Hotel’s attack on immigrants. Last year Utah legislators passed SB 251, which requires all businesses with more than 15 employees to use the E-verify system to track workers. However, the Utah state government refused to include any penalties for businesses that refuse to use E-verify, in part because the politicians did not want to hurt big corporations that exploit immigrant labor. The Grand America Hotel bosses set a July 6 deadline for all of the employees. The bosses require that all workers reapply and either show the necessary documentation or face immediate termination. However, the bosses extended this deadline one month, to Aug. 6 in order to ensure staffing at the Governors’ Conference.

United for Social Justice, an immigrant rights organization, learned of the situation and put out a call for an emergency action to protest Grand America’s unfair policies and the E-verify bill. A small crowd of people showed up, including members of United for Social Justice and the Revolutionary Students Union. Lead organizer Gregory Lucero explained, “We think it’s totally unfair that Grand America has used these immigrant workers for years and is suddenly threatening to fire some of them. This shows what hypocrites corporate America and the governors all are.” Protesters came with signs saying “Grand America unfair to immigrant workers,” “Boycott Grand America,” and “Drop E-verify.” Chants of “Grand America’s policies a lie, you must drop E-verify!” and “Shame on Grand America” could be heard blocks away.

Grand America’s bosses responded by calling the police to remove the protesters. The protesters stood their ground and the police told the Grand America bosses there was nothing they could do. Grand America turned on the sprinklers. Undeterred, protesters outlasted Grand America’s sprinkle shower.

The protesters vow to continue to fight Grand America and E-Verify, demanding legalization for all undocumented immigrants. Kristin Lambert, the vice president of Utah Valley University Revolutionary Students Union said, “Defending workers, especially those who are immigrants is a top priority. Grand America is attacking the right to receive a living wage and enforcing racist systems of verification. An attack on one worker is an attack on all of us.”

#SaltLakeCityUT #UnitedForSocialJustice #everify #NationalGovernorsAssociationConference #GrandAmericaHotel #RevolutionaryStudentsUnion

Salt Lake City, UT – More than 1000 people gathered here, March 5 to fight for immigrant rights. United for Social Justice called for the rally and protest march in response to the many repressive bills attacking immigrants that have been proposed by Utah lawmakers.

Protesters specifically targeted Utah State Representative Stephen Sandstorm’s House Bill 497 that would open the door for Arizona-style police checks of people’s immigration status. In addition to racially profiling Chicanos, Mexicans and other Latinos, it would waste tax money and police time. The marchers also targeted other bills such as HB 116, which authorizes a guest worker program, and HB 191, which would make it more difficult for undocumented students to get in-state college tuition. The Republican super-majority in the legislature is likely to pass most of these bills.

Participants demanded an end to laws that criminalize their communities and turn undocumented workers into second-class citizens. Protesters demanded full amnesty for all undocumented people.

“Don’t let Utah become Arizona” appeared on signs and in speeches as the theme of the rally. Immigrant rights leaders are fully aware of the negative economic impact and harm to jobs that the Arizona laws are causing in that state. The speakers for the rally included students, a local church pastor and the extraordinarily popular former mayor of Salt Lake City, Rocky Anderson.

The protesters marched on the on the Utah State Capitol chanting “Si, se puede!” “Education not deportation!” and “Shame on Sandstrom!”

Melodía Gutiérrez of the Revolutionary Students Union at the University of Utah expressed the view of the millions who joined the immigrant rights mega-marches just a few years ago, saying, “The right to life, liberty and happiness should not be a copyrighted American dream but a human right.”

Mark Alvarez of United for Social Justice summed up the feelings of many in the rally, “Shame on Utah legislators who reduced human beings to mere economic actors. Shame on Utah legislators who pit documented workers against undocumented workers. Celebrate people who speak with an accent. Celebrate workers.”

With May 1 fast approaching, students and immigrant rights activists are planning more protests and marches against repressive legislation in state capitols across the country.

#SaltLakeCityUT #RevolutionaryStudentUnion #UnitedForSocialJustice #HouseBill497 #HB116 #HB191