Tag Archives: Arizona

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Made in America … Obama


It’s no surprise that professional conspiracy theorists are still on the birth-certificate warpath — but now elected officials are getting their backs.

Obama for America

 Yesterday, four Republicans in the New Hampshire State House allowed a hearing requested by a group of birthers who want President Obama officially removed from the state’s primary ballot.

Obama for America

 It’s not clear whether all this is a smokescreen or whether these dead-enders actually believe this stuff. But they aren’t letting the facts get in their way — one group in Arizona has even demanded that the President “release the microfiche” of his birth certificate.

 Sadly, I don’t have any microfiches on hand, but we have the next best thing: In honor of birthers everywhere, we’re re-releasing the campaign’s limited-edition “Made in the USA” mugs.

Donate $20 or more today and we’ll send you one — complete with a reprint of the President’s birth certificate on the side for everyone to see.  BarackObama.com

     
 Here’s what one of the state representatives backing the effort had to say about yesterday’s hearing: “I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even I could take [the long-form birth certificate] apart and see that it was fraudulent.”

 Well, I won’t argue with one part of that statement.

 There’s clearly nothing we can do to satisfy this crowd — or anyone else who insists on wasting time and energy on nonsense like this.

 But when it starts to make your head hurt, I’ve found the best remedy is to have some tea in my “Made in the USA” mug.

 Works like a charm. I recommend Earl Grey:

Thanks,

Julianna

Julianna Smoot
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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50,000 stand with Alabama families! Marissa Graciosa, Reform Immigration FOR America


Your messages against HB 56 delivered to the Capitol
Over one hundred community members joined at the steps of the state Capitol this weekend to deliver nearly 50,000 signatures, collected by national immigrant rights and faith groups, and to show our solidarity across the nation with Alabama’s immigrant families.

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50,000 stand with Alabama families!
Watch the petition delivery now, and share our blog post on the rally.

Your messages were delivered, but this is just the beginning: today, our allies are launching One Family, One Alabama, a state-wide campaign to repeal HB 56. Together, we will move forward to fight back for all of our communities.

Click here to watch your signatures delivered at the Capitol.

Thanks for all you do,

Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America
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a message from Senator Al Franken


 

 Tuesday night, we saw progressives stand up and fight.

 In Ohio, voters resoundingly defeated a terrible law that stole collective bargaining rights away from nurses, teachers, cops, and firefighters. In Mississippi, they voted down an extreme anti-choice amendment. In Maine, they reversed a decision to end same-day voter registration. In Arizona, they recalled a state senator well-known for being a radical right-wing demagogue on immigration. In Kentucky, Iowa, and New Jersey, Democrats triumphed.

 And right here in Minnesota, I was proud to see Duluth add three terrific women to its City Council (meaning four of the nine Councilors will be women), and excited that a vast majority of school levy questions were approved.

 We didn’t win every battle, but those who fought to stop far-right laws and elect progressive candidates deserve our gratitude. And, of course, those who won Tuesday night deserve our congratulations.

 There’s going to be a lot of talk about what those results meant. But let’s not get big heads just yet. We have a lot of work to do. There are still a lot of workers whose basic rights are under attack, a lot of states where reproductive rights are in jeopardy, a lot of voters who may be disenfranchised by new Republican-backed laws, and a lot of work to do before 2012.

 I hope that, if you were part of one of these fights, you took yesterday to celebrate and rest up. But today, it’s back to work. We have big fights ahead. And I’m proud to have you on my side.

 Thanks,

 Al

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Victory in Arizona: What’s next? Marissa Graciosa, Reform Immigration FOR America


 A major win
 for our communities in Arizona

In April 2010, Reform Immigration FOR America and our partners supported our communities when Arizona passed the most extreme anti-immigrant bill in the United States. We held vigils. We rallied in the streets. We boycotted. Today, we stand behind Arizonans again, but for a very different purpose.

 

 Voters in Arizona’s District 18 ousted Russell Pearce, the architect of the hate-filled bill SB 1070, Tuesday night. He’s being replaced by Jerry Lewis, a pro-immigrant candidate committed to reforming our immigration policies in a humane, just way.

 This victory is a big one and we’re going to shout it from the rooftops.   http://act.reformimmigrationforamerica.org/go/1129?akid=776.164689.ecXJBU&t=5

 Pearce’s bill set the devastating tone for the rest of the nation’s immigration policies over the last 18 months. Anti-immigrant copycat bills were introduced in several states and a few were even passed. In Alabama, state legislators used SB1070 as the model to create the most extreme anti-immigrant bill in the country.

 Join us on Facebook to talk about what this victory means for our communities.

 By ousting Pearce, we’ve shown we’re resilient, we’re powerful, and we’re going to keep fighting for our rights. In 2012, anti-immigrant legislators will now have to think twice before pursuing anti-immigrant policies in our states.

 Congratulations on this victory,

 Marissa Graciosa
 Reform Immigration FOR America

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Alabama


Seal of Alabama Last week, a US district judge in Alabama ruled on HB56, the anti-immigrant measure that allows police to detain anyone without documentation, and forces public schools to confirm every student’s immigration status.

The effects have been both immediate and devastating: schools across the state are already reporting many Hispanic children absent, for fear of their families’ undocumented statuses being discovered. Crops are rotting in the fields because of the sudden shortage of migrant workers. One local framer warned, “There won’t be no next growing season.”

The Center for American Progress compiled comments from business leaders, academics, legal experts and Alabamians on HB56. One of the most powerful responses came from Professor Silvia Giagnoni of Auburn University at Montgomery, who said:

“It is sadly ironic that the same day a federal judge upholds major sections of the Alabama immigration law — the most restrictive in the nation — the state also receives an ‘A’ on its educational work in teaching civil rights history. It’s ironic because this comes at a time when the most retrogressive forces in Alabama claim a victory, although it is unclear to me against whom.”

Congress’ decision not to act on the federal level and pass comprehensive immigration reform means that states like Arizona, Georgia, Indiana and Alabama can now legislate discrimination — and other states could soon follow their precedent. This moment must be used as a wake-up call for the entire country to rededicate ourselves to passing national reform. Keep checking the blog as we write more on how our movement is taking action.

UPDATE: A federal judge refused to block the law Wednesday afternoon. We will continue to update as more news comes in.