http://vdlf.org/voces-de-la-frontera-pledges-resistance-following-trumps-deportation-threats-extremist-appointments/
At Wisconsin mass meetings, hundreds of immigrant workers and supporters commit to strike and mobilize massive protests against coming attacks (photos below)
ESPAÑOL ABAJO
MILWAUKEE and RACINE, WI — On Sunday night on 60 Minutes, Donald Trump renewed his commitment to mass deportation, promising to deport 2 to 3 million people and characterizing them as criminals. Over the weekend, he also appointed the anti-semite and white nationalist Steve Bannon as an advisor. Prior to this he also appointed to his transition team the Arizona SB1070 author Kris Kobach, an attorney for the anti-immigrant group FAIR, which Southern Poverty Law Center has declared a hate group. Voces de la Frontera issued the following statement in response:
“Since Trump’s victory we have seen a huge increase nationally and in Wisconsin in bullying and attacks against Latinxs, Muslims, African-Americans, immigrants, women, Asians, LGBT people and others,” said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera. “We have seen him appoint far-right extremists like Bannon and Kobach to positions of power, showing that these threats are real. We call on President Obama to immediately take steps to fast-track the disgraceful backlog of citizenship applications and provide immediate meaningful protections for undocumented people by granting relief before Trump takes power. We call on Paul Ryan to declare that no anti-immigrant legislation will be brought to the floor of the House. We call on state and local governments across the country to take steps to really make their areas sanctuaries for immigrants. We call on religious communities to commit to offer sanctuary to people targeted for deportation. In Wisconsin we are holding forums across the state and organizing for work stoppages and mass protest in the event that Trump moves forward with his plans. We pledge resistance and we encourage others to do likewise.
“Like other right wing demagogues, as Trump fails to keep the fantastic promises he made to white workers, he will try to instead direct their anger at their fellow workers. When millions of people lose health care through the repeal of the ACA and the privatization of Medicare, Trump will direct white anger at immigrants. Trump cannot revive coal, steel, or bring back millions of factory jobs, and he shows no commitment to raising wages in the service industry jobs that have replaced them. We are committed to organizing and participating in a broad front of opposition to the coming Republican attacks on all workers, immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women, LGBT people and others.”
“I’m living this in my real life,” said Sarah Basurto, a Voces de la Frontera member stopped for driving without a license in August, who could be targeted by Trump’s repeal of Obama’s federal enforcement priorities. “We do not deserve to be targeted like this. We are just trying to work and raise our families like anyone else.”
On Sunday night, Voces de la Frontera held mass meetings in Milwaukee and Racine, Wisconsin, each attended by hundreds of people. At both meetings community members voted to strike and mobilize massive protest action to stop the coming attacks. Voces de la Frontera is holding a community forum tonight in Madison at 6pm at Centro Hispano of Madison (810 W Badger Rd). More forums will be held throughout Wisconsin.
