[CitizensTruth] [Fwd: Hunger Strike enters nearly two weeks, help needed]

[Geri Perry]

Hi all,

This is a forwarded message from Monday the 19th so it is a couple of 
days old, but need is apparently still there. Help if you can - And even 
if you can't do read the story which prompted the request for help.

We all should at least be aware of such things taking place under our noses.

g

Note that there are updated contacts in addition to what are listed in 
original message pasted BELOW these new contacts, as follows:

When calling the AACC national headquarters at (909) 987-3013, please 
ask for national director Alex Santos, who is investigating the day 
laborers' complaint and the pastor's response.

Also, I listed the Waukegan church below. The main contact is the 
Illinois AACC mother church, actually in Palatine:
Palatine - Waukegan (mother church)
Pastor: Silvino L Garcia
1914 N Rand Rd
Palatine, IL 60074
(847) 293-9479


-------- Original Message --------


AS AURORA HUNGER STRIKE ENTERS NEARLY TWO WEEKS ACTIVISTS ASK HELP FOR 
WORKERS

Press Contacts: Cristobal Cavazos (630) 260-0142; Jose Cipriano 
Nevarez(331) 262-3331; Fernando Molina (630) 802-4245

As a hunger strike in Aurora enters its 11th day community activists 
will are asking for funds for striking day-laborers Jose Cipriano 
Nevarez and Manuel Sanchez Vega who are homeless and without a way to 
return to Mexico. Funds to help the workers can be sent to Jose Cipriano 
Nevarez and Manuel Sanchez c/o Immigrant Solidarity Dupage, 328 E. 
Liberty Drive #3, Wheaton IL 60187.

Mexican workers Jose Cipriano Nevarez and Manuel Sanchez Vega worked for 
over 3 months in late 2008 (Aug. 25- Nov. 4) having been contracted to 
dismantle an industrial air conditional system at the Apostolic Assembly 
of the Faith in Christ Jesus Church complex and flea market in Aurora. 
Performing the work without proper safety equipment, they would later 
find out that the HVAC system in the aged structure was ridden with 
asbestos and other contaminants. The pair would go on to paint murals of 
religious imagery and other artwork around the complex in addition to 
maintenance and creation of signage around the complex at the request of 
the property management.

Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus Church property owner 
and minister Rev. Rodolfo Hernandez refused to pay Cipriano Nevarez and 
Sanchez Vega when the job was complete alleging the two did the work “of 
their own volition.“ The workers, owed tens of thousand of dollars, have 
gone on to battle poor health, joblessness and homlessness since they 
finished work on the property on November 4, 2008. Hernandez, spokesman 
Humberto Valdez and other church/property officials have refused to 
negotiate.

On Friday morning at October 9 at 9 a.m. the workers set up outside the 
front of the Aurora complex at 175 N. State Street with tent and signs 
and commenced a hunger strike. At around 7:30pm Thursday, October 15, 
Aurora police, supposedly on orders from police chief Gary S. Thomas, 
ordered the small canopy outside the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in 
Christ Jesus Church-flea market complex (175 N. State Street, Aurora IL) 
where hunger striking day laborers Jose Cipriano Nevarez and Manuel 
Sanchez Vega had been for 7 days dismantled, citing code violations. The 
hunger strike has continued on with the workers and their allies outside 
of the church-flea market complex in the day while spending the night 
with community allies. The workers are demanding their pay and 
denouncing the routine labor injustices suffered by immigrant workers 
across Chicago

<http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=741666&op=1&view=all&subj=172056796008&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=172056796008&id=1037675959>