PRESS RELEASE
October 12, 2009
For Immediate Release
LOCAL IMMIGRANTS JOIN NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
Family Unity Ride supports new immigration reform principles to be released by Congressman Gutierrez
SEATTLE - A coalition of immigrant advocacy organizations is sending two busloads of immigrants and allies from Seattle to San Jose, California on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, to join a national campaign in support of immigration reform. Approximately 105 immigrants and allies from Washington, Idaho and Oregon will join the Family Unity Ride. The buses will travel from Seattle to Salem, Oregon, and then on to Santa Clara, California, drawing attention to unfair immigration enforcement that too often separates families. Many of those traveling have been directly affected by our nation's broken immigration system.
The Family Unity Ride is part of a series of national actions taking place across the country to push for passage of comprehensive immigration reform and to protest increased enforcement efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Riders will join other California immigrant rights, labor and faith organizations at a protest rally and march in Santa Clara, where Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will be speaking at a university event. Napolitano is both in charge of U.S. immigration enforcement as well as the Obama administration's designated point person on immigration reform efforts.
"Family unity cannot wait," said OneAmerica Executive Director Pramila Jayapal. "It is time to fix our broken immigration system - for our families, for our workers, for our businesses and for America. Our riders are going to make sure Secretary Napolitano hears that message."
Coalition organizers will kick off Family Unity Ride with a press conference at OneAmerica's office this Wednesday at 10:00 AM to announce details of the ride before sending off the buses. Coalition leaders and ride participants will be available for comment.
"Our families are being torn apart by unjust immigration policies, yet political decision makers keep postponing any solutions," said LeeAnn Hall, Executive Director of the Northwest Federation of Community Organizers (NWFCO). Will Pittz, Executive Director of the Washington Community Action Network (Washington CAN), added, "Instead of conducting raids, we should be ensuring real change happens by fixing the immigration system." Both NWFCO and Washington CAN are part of OneAmerica's immigrant advocacy coalition.
Family Unity Ride follows the day after Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) and key allies in the House and Senate released a series of principles that outline a comprehensive immigration reform bill that Gutierrez plans to introduce later in this fall. The 840-mile West Coast bus ride and rally also follows a national rally with delegations from several states that was just held in Washington, D.C.
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Who: Coalition organizers include OneAmerica, CAUSA, Idaho Community Action Network, NWFCO, and Washington CAN.
What: Press conference for Family Unity Ride featuring coalition organizers and participants, followed by sending the buses off to San Jose.
Where: OneAmerica, 1225 S. Weller St., 3rd Floor, Seattle, WA
When: Press conference at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Why: Local immigrants and allies calling on the Obama administration for immigration reform.
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About OneAmerica
OneAmerica, formerly Hate Free Zone, is a non-profit organization that advances the
fundamental principles of democracy and justice by building power within
immigrant communities.
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