[CitizensTruth] May Day organizers defy City pressure, will not cancel

[Jay Becker]

Press Release: 
May Day organizers defy city pressures to cancel May Day march amidst fears of influenza outbreak

 

Press Conference
Thursday, April 30 11:00 am
Haymarket Memorial
Randolph & Desplaines St., Chicago IL
 
Media Contact:
Jorge Mujica (773) 852-8815
Chris Mahin (773) 726-1284
 
Immigrants and workers, joined together with their supporters,
call to go forward with march on May Day for equality, labor rights,
legalization and just immigration laws.  


CHICAGO – Using the fear surrounding the swine flu outbreak,
anti-immigrant groups, including those in city government, call for a
cancellation of the workers' and immigrants' rights demonstration.
Immigrants and workers resolve to hold fast and rally with the slogan
“without legalization there can be no equal labor rights” despite
targeted attacks from the government.    



Father Jose Landaverde said “I was directly contacted by city
officials.  They wanted to know if we were canceling the march, they
wanted us to agree to wear masks if the march was going to happen.” 


Margarita Klein, Staff Director of Workers United, states: “If
people are not allowed to march on May Day because of health concerns,
then similar precautions must be taken in other crowded events taking
place in Chicago. We will cancel the march when every sporting event,
movie showing, church service and class is cancelled.”



While aware of the situation in Mexico City, march organizers wish
to express their demands without being singled out because of their
country of origin.  May Day is a traditional day to raise grievances
dating back over 100 years. Workers and immigrants are under attack and
city officials can not discourage May Day organizers from exercising
their rights to raise issues that affect millions of people.

======================================================
 
* Due to talks with the City of Chicago we had to start the march earlier; we must leave promptly at 11:30 am.

    Stop thinking like an American, 
Start thinking about humanity!



      
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