May Day of Action : March for Immigrant Rights!
Event Info Name: May Day of Action
Tagline: March for Immigrant Rights!
Host: No One Is Illegal
Type: Causes - Rally
Time and Place Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Christie Pitts Park
Street: 750 Bloor Street West
City/Town: Toronto, ON
There are over 500,000 undocumented people living and working across Canada, over 80,000 in Toronto alone. They are forced to live in daily fear of jailing and deportation. At the same time, new categories of "temporary foreign workers" without full status and without rights are being created by federal and provincial governments. These workers are exploited as cheap labour, based on fear of deportation
On May 3rd, we will take to the streets. We will demand an end to detentions and deportations. We will demand access without fear to essential services. We will demand an end to security certificates and secret trials. We will demand a full and inclusive regularization program. We will demand justice, dignity and respect!
[url=http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org]NOII page[/url]
The corresponding march in Montrйal is on Sunday, the 4th of May, because the big trade-union May Day demonstration is on Saturday the 3rd this year (busing people to Mtl from across Quйbec).
It is in Cфte-des-neiges, a neighbourhood where there are many new immigrants: LE DIMANCHE 4 MAI а 12h30
Point de dйpart: au coin des rues Victoria et Van Horne а CФTE-DES-NEIGES
(mйtro Plamondon, sortie Van Horne)
Also don't forget the rally against bill C-484, in Ottawa, also on the 3rd of May.
Join the OCAP contingent. Meet under the OCAP "Good Enough to Stay.Period." banner at Christie Pitts.
MAY DAY OF ACTION: STATUS FOR ALL!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Christie Pits Park (at Christie subway station)12 Noon
*This is a child-friendly demonstration. Food and drinks will be available. There will be vehicles on-hand for those with reduced mobility.
This including an accessible vehicle shuttling between Bathurst Station and Christie Pitts beginning at 11:30am.
Please call 416-604-5765 if you have accessibility concerns.*
Millions across North America have taken to the streets in the last two years demanding Status for All!
In Toronto, workers, students, trade unionists, activists and community members have led passionate demonstrations calling for justice and dignity for immigrants and refugees.
The last year has seen unprecedented targeting of refugees in Sanctuary. Asylum seekers have been arrested from schools, workplaces and even hospital beds. Families have been torn apart.
Over 12,000 friends, family,and community members have been deported. On March 14th 2008, the Conservative government introduced a series of amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), buried in Bill c-50, a 136-page "budget implementation bill".
If passed, the Minister will have the discretion
-to refuse applications even where the applicants meet the elitist and racist criteria for permanent residence,
-to refuse to even examine humanitarian applications filed from abroad,
-and to arbitrarily set quotas on the "category" of person that can enter Canada – including quotas based on country of origin.
In the face of this intimidation and fear, our communities have refused to be silenced.
Together, we have forced immigration enforcement out of Toronto District schools. Inspired frontline community workers have taken up the struggle for Access Without Fear.
We have fought against, and stopped the deportations of allies and friends.
But the fight is not over. There are over 500,000 undocumented peopleliving and working across Canada, over 200,000 in Toronto alone.
They are forced to live in daily fear of jailing and deportation, without access toessential services. Bill C-50 would create even more categories of "temporary foreign workers" without full status and without rights.
These workers will be exploited as cheap labour, as mere commodities, used and then removed.
We will not stand for this.
On May 3rd, as part of the National Days of Action for Status for All, we will take to the streets.
We demand an end to detentions and deportations. We demand access without fear to essential services.
We demand an end tosecurity certificates and secret trials.
We demand a full and inclusive regularization program.
We demand justice, dignity and respect!
JOIN US!
The March will be followed by a community fair featuring music,performers, food, childrens activities and visual art displays.
WAYS TO SUPPORT:
1) Organize a loud contingent to come out on May 3rd.
2) Endorse the May Day of Action by emailing NOII a short statement ofsupport.
3) Financial and in-kind (photocopying, translation) donations.
4) Organize a NOII workshop/presentation at your school, union local,agency, community centre or workplace.
5) Help out with postering and outreach For more information about how you support the march or get involved:Email: [email protected]: [url=http://www.nooneisillegal.orgPhone:]www.nooneisillegal.orgPhone:[/url] 416 604-5765 --
No Borders No Nations! Stop the Deportations!visit [url=http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/]http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/[/url] or [url=http://www.ocap.ca]http://www.ocap.ca[/url] to get involved!