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March 31, 2007
McDonald's Truth Tour: Behind the Golden Arches
The Coalition of Imokalee Workers (CIW) will be going "Behind the Golden Arches" as it launches the 2007 McDonald's Truth Tour. National MEChA unanimously voted to support the CIW in it's demands.
National MEChA encourages all MEChA chapters to take action in support of the Imokalee workers by organizing on your campus. It can be something as simple as spreading the word via literature. This is especially encouraged as part of the Student Labor Week of Action.
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The tour will leave Immokalee on April 7th, stopping in several cities as it makes its way to Chicago. On April 13th a major rally and presse conference will take place outside of McDonald's global headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. Then a Carnaval and Parade for Fair Food, Real Rights, and Dignity will take place on Saturday, April 14th in downtown Chicago.
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Please visit the 2007 McDonald's Truth website (http://www.ciw-online.org/2007truthtour/) for more information about the campaign and for campaign materials and literature for you to distribute on your campus and in your community. You can also check out the what other students are doing by visiting the Student Farmworker Alliance website (http://www.sfalliance.org/) . Get active with this network of student groups from throughout the country.
If you are interested in organizing a caravan to Chicago for the April 13th rally and April 14th carnaval, get in touch with a nearby SFA steering committee member and/or browse our local contacts here.
Three of the twenty steering committe members are MEChistAs: Rodolfo Cortinas (MEChA de Tejaztlán, UTA), Guadalupe Gomez (MEChA de Notre Dame), and Alexis Herrera (MEChA de Tejaztlán, UTA). Feel free to contact them with any questions as to what your chapter can do in this struggle for justice!
March 30, 2007
Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter Renewed
Yesterday evening Juan Villalobos of MEChA de ELAC (East Los Angeles College) reported that Academia Semillas del Pueblo was rechartered for another five years. The L.A. Times reported that "The 5-2 decision came after more than several hundred school supporters marched downtown from the Olvera Street plaza to the district headquarters."
National MEChA unanimously voted to pledge it's support for Academia Semillas del Pueblo during the 2007 national resolution circle. On behalf of Academia Semillas del Pueblo, Juan expressed a "thank you to all for all your hard work."
March 28, 2007
Student Labor Week of Action
Once again, National MEChA is endorsing the SLAP (Student Labor Action Project) Student Labor Week of Action.
This year's week of action begin's today, March 28th, and runs through April 4th. During the National MEChA resolution circle this past weekend, National MEChA voted unanimously to endorse the Student Labor Week of Action and to encourage all MEChA chapters throughout Aztlán to organize a labor action and/or participate in one.
Learn more by visiting: http://www.studentlabor.org/ and make sure to register your campus as a participant and list what your chapter will be doing.
March 27, 2007
Support Academia Semillas del Pueblo
Tomorrow is the last day to take action in support of the re-chartering of Academia Semillas del Pueblo before the March 29, 2007 meeting of the LAUSD School Board. Pledge to support educational equity as voted on by National MEChA at the conference resolution circle in Denver.
Academia has created this pledge as the vehicle for community members to show support for the re-authorization of the charter. You can print this form and fax it to (323) 987-1240.
You can also show your support by emailing the board members directly or faxing them also.
| Marguerite Poindexter Lamotte | marguerite.lamotte@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8441 |
| Mónica García | monica.garcia@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8459 |
| Jon Lauritzen (Vice President) | jon.lauritzen@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8979 |
| Marlene Canter (President) | marlene.canter@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8453 |
| David Tokofsky | david.tokofsky@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8467 |
| Julie Korenstein | julie.korenstein@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8451 |
| Mike Lansing | mike.lansing@lausd.net | Fax: (213) 241-8452 |
March 26, 2007
Update: Save the Peaks
The 2006 National MEChA action hosted at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ was in support of the Save the Peaks coalition. The slopes of the San Francisco Peaks, located in Northern Arizona, have been at the center of a historical and lengthy battle that has pitted economic interests on public lands against environmental integrity, public health and cultural survival. A local ski resort planned to expand and use treated waste effluent to make snow.
MEChA de NAU reported that on Monday, March 12th the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling to protect a mountain held holy by more than 13 Native American Nations.
The federal court appeals panel issued the unanimous decision written by Judge William A. Fletcher. "We reverse the decision of the district court in part. We hold that the Forest Service’s approval of the Snowbowl’s use of recycled sewage effluent to make artificial snow on the San Francisco Peaks violates [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] RFRA, and that in one respect the Final Environmental Impact Statement prepared in this case does not comply with NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act]."
March 25, 2007
National MEChA Action in Denver
 Marchers, heading from the Auraria campus to West High. (Post / RJ Sangosti) |
The 2007 national action took place yesterday as National MEChA, in coalition with the César Chávez Peace and Justice Committee and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) marched and chanted Saturday in memory of César E. Chávez and in support of comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
There was media coverage of the event by several local news stations. You can visit the Denver Post and read the article they published today: "Marchers on a quest for justice." While there, check out the comments section and feel free to post comments.
