03/15/2014
A handful of people are blocking immigration reform, Beltway insiders say: there are more than 218 votes that would pass an immigration bill, if the house leadership would only call it to the floor.
Gamaliel's Dream for All Civil Rights of Immigrants delegates in Hawaii, California and across the heartland are participating with the national group We Belong Together, women for common-sense immigration reform, in a wave of fasts and public actions across the country to make the breakthrough that can ensure this bill is fair and comprehensive, and to make sure this vote is allowed to happen.
Women across the country will be sacrificing food and taking action to protest the moral crisis caused by those who are blocking immigration reform, as well as the epidemic of deportations that are tearing our families apart. Gamaliel affiliated actions include the following:
March 17, Indiana Organizing Project, South Bend
March 18, ESTHER, Fox Valley, Wisc.
March 19, Metropolitan Congregations United, St. Louis
March 20, Gamaliel of Metro Chicago
March 21, United Congregations of the Metro East, East St. Louis
March 22, Asamblea De Derechos Civilesles, Minnesota
March 23, Action of Lansing, Lansing
March 24, Metro Organization for Racial & Economic Equity, Kansas City
March 25, Racine Interfaith Coalition
March 26, Hawaii Coalition for Immigration Reform (HCIR)
March 27, Quad Cities Interfaith, Illinois/Iowa
Leaders in Michigan and Indiana will also welcome Fast for Families bus tour to their town to highlight some of the cranky congressmen holding immigration reform hostage, such as U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich, and U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind.
This month of action is part of the next push by the pro-reform movement to bring a comprehensive immigration law to the finish line and stop the epidemic of deportations. As a movement, women together with the rest of the pro-reform movement are taking action to say:
House Republicans give us a vote on a fair reform bill now!
Obama administration we say not one more! Take action now to stop deportations for all 11 million undocumented immigrants!
In addition to Gamaliel, hundreds of women have already begun gathering to fast. A complete list is available from We Belong Together Web site.
Also, Ana Garcia-Ashley from Gamaliel will join in a 48-hour fast of 100 women in Washington DC from April 7-9. These women will be joined by the caravans from the National Fast for Families bus tour, arriving in Washington, D.C. on April 9.
