Support the Campaign for the "Right Not to Emigrate"
Sacramento Declaration -- April 23, 2008
(excerpts)
We -- the undersigned trade unionists, youth and immigrants' rights activists -- came together in Sacramento, Calif., on April 23 following a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol during which we issued an open invitation to participate in the May Day protest actions in Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco.
Participants in our meeting included representatives from the Front of Mexicans Living Abroad [Frente de Mexicanos en el Exterior/FME], Coalición Cívica Primero de Mayo, LULAC of West Sacramento, the Sacramento chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Coalición Aguila Azteca, and the Spanish-language El Organizador newspaper. The purpose of our meeting was to promote across the state of California and nationwide the Continental Campaign for the Right Not to Emigrate. ...
In our meeting in Sacramento, we resolved to convey our fullest solidarity and support for the labor and community protests and actions that will take place across the United States on May 1st -- International Workers Day. In particular we declare our full support for the Call to Action Against the War issued by the longshore workers on the West Coast. Their call states:
"At the start of the Iraq War in 2003, many working people were opposed to the invasion. Now the overwhelming majority want to end the war and withdraw troops. Yet, both major political parties continue to fund the war. Marches and demonstrations have not been able to stop the war. The longshore workers will stop work for 8 hours in every port on the West Coast on May 1st. This action shows that working people have the power to stop the war. ... We will make May 1st a "No Peace, No Work Holiday!" ...
We call upon all organizations that will be mobilizing this May Day across the United States to raise the following demands from our Continental Campaign in your protest actions, speeches and literature:
- No to the corporate "Free Trade" Agreements!
- Respect the right to self-determination and sovereignty of all oppressed nations!
- Agrarian Reform!
- For Economic Policies that Promote Development and Living-Wage Jobs!
- Defend Pemex in Mexico and all the Natural Resources of all the Nations of Latin America!
- No to the Fake Migrant Parliament in Mexico!
- Legalization / Papers For All Undocumented Immigrants in the United States!
- No to Guest Worker Programs!
- Stop the Raids and Tear Down the Wall of Shame!
In solidarity,
Frente de Mexicanos en el Exterior (FME), Coalición Cívica Primero de Mayo, LULAC of West Sacramento, LCLAA of Sacramento, Coalición Aguila Azteca and El Organizador newspaper