The Virginia Immigrant People’s Coalition

If you are tired of seeing the important politics of our state hijacked by fear-mongering anti-immigration campaigns, here's a chance to take a stand: Join the Virginia Immigrant People's Coalition.

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Dear Friends,

The Virginia Immigrant People’s Coalition was founded to organize an effective community response to the anti immigrant policies and bills that are being proposed at the Virginia General Assembly.

The coalition is a collective effort of grassroots immigrant organizations and individuals working in Virginia including Madre Tierra, Virginia Justice Center, Woodbridge Workers Committee, Immigrant Solidarity Network of Charlottesville, Making a Difference Foundation, Mexicanos Sin Fronteras and The People United.

The VIP Coalition would like to acknowledge the organizations and individuals throughout Virginia and across the United States who work tirelessly to support human rights and dignity for all people. We respect and honor the work that you have been doing in your community. It is with this in mind that we reach out to you during this very disturbing time. We ask you to join us in the Virginia Immigrant Peoples Coalition, to stand up against the tidal wave of anti-immigrant activity sweeping
the state and the nation.

We will gather in Richmond on February 11th to lobby and protest against the dozens of inhumane and mean-spirited bills being introduced which would strip the immigrant community of basic human dignity and criminalize families, children, students, families, and churches and community groups that provide support. We are also protesting the upsurge in racist ordinances attacking immigrants and human dignity in general, including the use of housing ordinances against immigrant families, the use of school children to target immigrant families, and the use of local police
to enforce federal immigration laws.

The VIP Coalition will be joined by a number of church, labor, Native American, African American, civil and human rights groups.


STRATEGY MEETING THIS SATURDAY

The VIP Coalition invites you to participate in the Regional Immigrant Peoples Solidarity Gathering. On Saturday, January 19th the VIP Coalition and many other groups and individuals will meet to organize a political strategy and build an action plan that will include the Immigrant Day of Action at the VA Assembly and other initiatives. The meeting will take place at St Augustine Catholic Church of Richmond, 4400 Beulah, Richmond, VA 23237 from 10 am to 5 pm.

Organizations or individuals wishing to endorse or participate in the actions are asked to contact:
Jeff Winder: (434)906-0421, info@thepeopleunited.org
Ricardo Juarez: (571) 288-9903, Ricardo@mexicanossinfronteras.org

For more info, you can also visit this page on internet, click on the link below or copy and paste into your browser:
http://www.mexicanossinfronteras.org/virginia_asamblea_general_2008/index.htm

As Dr. King wrote, “We are all tied up in an inescapable network of mutuality.” We appreciate your support and look forward to working more closely with you.

In Solidarity,

Ricardo Juarez Nava
General Coordinator – Mexicanos sin Fronteras (Mexicans Without Borders)
on behalf of The Virginia Immigrant Peoples Coalition