AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Maru must stay - Stop deportation of immigrants' rights leader

	US Immigrants’ rights leader threatened! MARU MUST STAY! Hands off activists and protesters! Stop separation of families! No detention & deportations!
Maru Mora-Villalpando, a US based community organiser and mother is facing deportation. On 15 January, she received a deportation notice from the US government. The Trump administration as part of it attacks against immigrant communities has arrested and detained outspoken, undocumented campaigners – including from Haiti, Trinidad, Central and Latin America. Maru leads the Northwest Detention Center Resistance (NWDCR), an organization co-founded when immigrants held at the Center went on hunger strike in 2014 protesting their inhumane treatment. Since then, Maru’s has led campaigning that has made the Detention Center a site of local resistance with weekly rallies and vigils outside its gates. She is also part of an international network of anti-deportation campaigners. Maru is being targeted because of her vital work against Trump’s racist immigration policy which has seen deportations soar by nearly 50%. Many long-term residents, like Maru who has lived in the US for over 20 years, are being wrenched from their families and communities. Millions worldwide are fleeing war, genocide and starvation caused by the policies of the US and other Western governments and corporations. The work of those of us from the Global South creates wealth for the Global North, We have a right to safety, to cross borders and to claim our rights. We cannot allow organisers like Maru, who have stood up for others, to be targeted. In defending Maru we defend ourselves.
*International actions* International actions are being organized to stop Maru’s threat of deportation. So far: · 4 February: People’s Tribunal at the North West Detention Centre (12 – 3pm) · 5 February: Protest at the US embassy, London UK (5.30-6.30pm) · Other actions are planned in Pennsylvania and California, in Mexico, Spain and other countries. Watch this space…
We invite you to · Organize an action – protest, vigil, leafletting, letter writing, meeting… · Sign the Petition · Support Maru’s Defense Fund · Spread the word – email this message, circulate on social media, contact the press. Wherever you are, whatever you do, let us know so we can publicise it.
Issued by: North West Detention Centre Resistance resistenciasolidarity@gmail.com Payday men’s network contact@paydaynet.org www.refusingtokill.net Women of Colour in the Global Women’s Strike womenofcolour@allwomencount.net All African Women’s Group aawg02@googlemail.com