NY Filipinos Assert Immigrants' & Workers' Rights

Filipinos in NY Say "Assert Immigrants' & Workers' Rights! Down With U.S. Imperialism

May 1, 2006

NEW YORK - Filipino workers, youth and solidarity friends organized a vibrant contingent that marched in the massive immigrant May Day demonstration on Monday. The contingent was led by DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association, the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) and Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan. The group marched as part of Immigrant Communities in Action, a New York City-based coalition of over 20 organizations of immigrants and non-immigrants working to build immigrant power for justice and dignity. Immigrants from around the world took part in the demonstration waving their nations’ flags. The crowds stretched nearly 3 miles and over 25 blocks from Union Square to Foley Square in downtown Manhattan.

The Filipino contingent chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, deportation has got to go!” and carried placards reading: “Down with US Imperialism- Root of forced migration” and “No to a guest worker program, Legalization for all immigrant workers!”

“I am one of the thousands of domestic workers here in New York,” said Elena Shannon, a board member of DAMAYAN. “I am very positive that this May 1 will be remembered as an important day in our lives. Together we can be stronger to succeed in our aim to have the right to be legal immigrants in this country and free from exploitation in our home countries.”

The three organizations will continue the struggle to defeat not only the Sensenbrenner bill that was the spark for the current immigrant upsurge, but all of the punitive immigration bills being debated in U.S. Congress, none of which address the economic realities that force people to migrate. The public is urged to sign the Immigrant Communities in Action petition found at http://www.petitiononline.com/HR4437/ to support a just legalization bill.

For pictures, go to: http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2006/05/7044.php

Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines

ENDS

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