Wed 13 Jun 2007
On Wednesday morning, June 6th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a series of raids in New Haven. They kidnapped 33 people from their homes, arresting parents, and leaving terror and panic in their wake.
Picket the court hearing of the New Haven detainees!
Federal Court, 450 Main St., Hartford
8am, Thursday
Fri 8 Jun 2007
The following report is from HIMC comrade Rob Miller:
We went down to the rally in New Haven on Thursday night. We went to protest the rounding up of 29 people in New Haven on Wednesday by ICE. There was a good turn out- 1,500 people. Everything was at the church St. Rosa of Lima in North Haven. When we arrived Mass was finishing up. There was standing room only in the church and a large crowd of people out side the church. A group of activists marched down the street chanting “Immigrant rights are under attack- What will we do? Stand up! Fight back!” but they had to stop so as not to disturb the service. After the mass everyone came out of the church and spilled into the street which was closed off.
Many people spoke including one man who summed up the immigrant issue in one sentence. ” Immigrants come to rich countries from poor countries because its the policies of the rich countries that keep poor countries poor” A holocaust survivor talked about Nazi Germany when police broke down her family’s door because she was Jewish. Then they walked the street all night looking for someone to let her in. Another woman talked about how the ICE raid had broken her family and the deep pain that it caused her, but she was encouraged by all the people who showed up this evening. Another woman talked about what a huge victory the resident ID cards were in New Haven and for everyone to get one.
The New Haven resident ID cards that the city has decided to issue to anyone who lives in the city are very meaning full. Many people at the rally thought that the raids happened because of the plans to do this. Large poster petitions were set up and signed by people who will apply for the cards. The cards will allow people who get them to use libraries, open savings accounts, and access recreation facilities among other things. Fox news actually did a good story on the event during the 10 pm news.
Wed 6 Jun 2007
This morning 29 immigrants were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Haven. Keep in mind that on Monday the City of New Haven Board of Aldermen passed a City ID bill by a vote of 25-1. The IDs will enable immigrants to receive city services, open bank accounts, make financial transactions and other vital daily activities. It is the first such measure in the United States.
These raids are a violent reaction to New Haven’s ID bill.
An injury to one is an injury to all. Call these officials and express your outrage about the ICE raids in New Haven, and tell them that they MUST speak out and demand that this ICE assault on political freedom be stopped.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
New Haven office: 203-562-3718
Senator Christopher Dodd
Hartford office: 860-258-6940 / 800-334-5341 (CT only)
Senator Joseph Lieberman
Hartford office: 860-549-8463 / 800-225-5605 (CT only)
Thank New Haven Mayor John DeStafano for speaking out!
Sean Matteson, Chief of Staff 203-946-7802
(Information from the Connecticut chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. For more info contact Peter Goselin at pdgoselin@lapm.org)
Wed 17 Jan 2007
After four years of wrangling with structural planning and budget overruns, New Haven is finally going to let Veterans Memorial Coliseum die. Early Saturday morning, most downtown streets as well as small stretches of both I-91 and I-95 will be closed in anticipation of the big boom. (more…)
Wed 13 Dec 2006
Like so many other cities, New Haven’s philosophy of urban renewal has been to move its problems of poverty elsewhere by construction of one high-priced, owner-occupied dwelling after another. House by house, condo by condo, neighborhoods like Wooster Square and riverfront Fair Haven are being given over to young professionals who want a quick commute downtown. Ownership is key. The stats say that those neighborhoods with a higher concentration of home-ownership are less prone to crime. When in doubt, move out the renters, move in the buyers.
(more…)