On Wednesday, April 29, UC Berkeley Police, apparently acting on behalf of ICE and introducing themselves as ICE agents, arrested Jesus Gutierrez, a worker at the Clark Kerr Campus Dining Commons and a union activist in AFSCME Local 3299. Acting on information alleging that Gutierrez was using false papers to work at UC Berkeley, the UCPD charged him with identity fraud. Gutierrez has been placed under ICE immigration hold as he sits in Santa Rita Jail. On Wednesday, May 13, a rally and a march will be held at at Sproul Plaza, UC-Berkeley, to demand the release of Jesús Gutiérrez from ICE custody.

Gutierrez is suspected of no crime apart from the allegation of working using false identification. He is currently charged with felony identity fraud, a charge that is reserved for people who use identity information to steal money.

In a statement, Ronald Cruz, a member of BAMN, writes, “There is a strong likelihood this is an effort by UC Berkeley to intimidate organized labor. Jesus was a rank-and-file union activist in AFSCME Local 3299, which just had a strong one-week strike in summer 2008 and won a contract that includes language requiring ICE to contact AFSCME before arresting a worker. Surprisingly, the arrest has come from UC Berkeley itself.” Read more

ICE kidnaps UC Berkeley employee | Berkeley Protests ICE Raids | AFSCME Strike Postponed -- What's Next?

On May 1, 2009, immigrant rights and labor rights activists marched and rallied in Chicago to commemorate the workers' holiday, which has also been a capstone for immigrant rights efforts in recent years. The holiday holds particular significance for Chicago, given the origins of Mayday dating back to 1886, and the legendary immigrant rights protests which swept America and Chicago starting in 2006.

Mayday 2009 Coverage: Video of Mayday March | National Immigrant Workers Mobilization Dispatch | Photos: Mayday in Chicago

May 1st, 2009 was an impressive showing of Worcester's solidarity for full rights for immigrant workers, and for all workers, in Worcester, across the United States, and around the world.

Cinco de Mayo is traditionally a time of celebration on the streets of San José, but the early days of May brought more protest than ceremony to the city center this year. City Hall Plaza was the scene of two demonstrations, both of which were monitored by mounted city police. The protests called for meaningful immigration reform and an end to police brutality.

We built a cell (with help from David G!) out of chicken wire and wooden stakes with 8 foot by 10 foot dimensions. The same size as cells at the T Don Hutto Detention Center, a former medium security center which currently incarcerates immigrant families. Our friends and allies at the dragon valley real school came to help us both as actors detained in the cell, and by helping to gather signatures and distribute pamphlets about T Don Hutto and family detention.

We set up at 10am in Butler Plaza and stayed until about 3:30pm and in that time were able to gather 600 signatures to a petition asking Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to end the policy of family detention (you can sign an online version here), and distributed nearly 1,000 pamphlets produced by Grassroots Leadership about T Don Hutto.

While many students were uninterested in talking to us, the overwhelming majority of folks who were willing to stop and talk were supportive of the cause, and excited to sign the petition. While some students we spoke to were familiar with Hutto, the majority were not that familiar, and many were schocked that children are being locked up in prison, and even more so that a private company would profit from this incarceration. [Read Full Story with Photos] SDS Houston Blog

On May 1, hundreds rallied and marched down Lake St. in Minneapolis in support of immigrant rights.  The demonstration was organized by the MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition and the May 1st Coalition around the following demands: 

• Stop the Raids and Deportations
• Drivers Licenses for All
• Unconditional Legalization for All Now
• Support the Employee Free Choice Act

People around the world marched for workers' and immigrants' rights on May 1st. In the United States, labor day has been traditionally celebrated in September, but since 2006 the immigration movement has brought back the tradition of celebrating international workers day on May 1st, in commemoration of the Haymarket massacre in Chicago.

In Washington, DC, the day began with an ICE raid at 6 am. It was reported that one of the ICE officers woke up residents by saying, "Where's all the Hispanic people in this building?"

"Without immigrants this country of ours—because it's ours as well—would not be in any way near as good as it is," said Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities. "It is because of immigrants of yesterday, immigrants of today, and immigrants of tomorrow, that this nation is indeed still, in spite of all the difficulties, a beacon of hope."

The message of the immigrant mobilization was simple and direct, end the raids and detentions, and establish a new immigration policy based on human, civil, and labor rights.

LOCAL REPORTS:: Boston, MA, Video | Chicago, IL | Houston, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Miami | Minneapolis, MN | New York, NY, Video | Portland, OR | Poughkeepsie, NY | San Francisco Bay Area 1, 2 | Seattle, WA | Washington DC, Audio | Worcester, MA

Photos & Essay Reports from around the World from National Immigrant Solidarity Network | A New May Day Rises from The Indypendent | May Day Immigrant Rights Retrospective from PepperSpray Productions

RELATED: NACLA Launches Campaign to Send "Open Veins of Latin America" to the White House | James P. Cannon: A Native Son's Revolutionary Road | "Shut Down ICE!" 30 Arrested in Civil Disobedience at Bloomington Facility | Workers Rally for Employee Free Choice

Protestors around the city called for an end to raids and deportations.

May Day 2009 in New York City was celebrated in the rain, as over a thousand people gathered in different locations in the metropolitan area to rally for immigrant rights.

May First in DC, started out with a 6am ICE raid in an apartment complex in the middle of Mt Pleasant. One of the ICE officers woke up residents by saying, "Where's all the Hispanic people in this building?" This is what May first means to ICE. Instead, the National Capitol Immigration Coalition (NCIC) has made May First "their" day. Locally noone else has wanted May First, with its legacy of international worker's of the world unite, so immigration rights have become the exclusive focus of May Day for past few years. Over 1,500 march for immigrant rights Critical Mass: 50+ take Key Bridge, Whitehurst Freeway Free Speech march takes U st, 18th st before being dispersed

Outdoor public events in the City of Los Angeles have always been unpredictable and the history of May Day events over the years is no exception to this. Early reports of Friday’s May Day events indicate that this year was festive and free of police violence experienced in past years.

There were multiple May Day marches and events this year in the Los Angeles area on Friday. There were also dozens of high school student walkouts in East LA and many local community marches throughout the Southern California region.

One Indymedia reporter with one of downtown marches reported a very positive and festive march with a wide diversity of people and a great youth turnout. The crowds cheered as student walkout marches from local high schools joined the main march. Another reporter in Riverside estimates 500 people demonstrated at Riverside City Hall. Local grassroots groups and union locals together with UCR students made up the Riverside demonstration.

From the Newswire: May Day 2009 on Broadway a photo essay by William John Cox | | Timeline of call ins to the LA-IMC newsroom | | Cell Phone Photos from Downtown March | | Downtown LA May Day Protests by Robert Stuart Lowden

Reports from Riverside: May 1, 2009 Riverside Immigrants Rights/Labor Rights march and rally by Flowerguerrilla | | May Day 2009, Riverside, Part 1 & Part 2 by Rockero | | The Inland Empire Marches on May Day by Jennaya Dunlap | | Impressive May Day in Riverside by Kevin Akin

About 400 people marched from East Boston to Chelsea to Everett to observe May Day--a day for workers' and immigrants' rights. Organized by several local organizations such as Centro Presente, the Chelsea Collaborative, the East Boston Ecumenical Community Council (EBEC), the American Friends Service Committee, and the Boston May Day Coalition, people marched the streets under the motto “Yesterday We Voted for Change, Today We Demand Change!”

"Without immigrants this country of ours--because it's ours as well--would not be in any way near as good as it is," said Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities. "It is because of immigrants of yesterday, immigrants of today, and immigrants of tomorrow, that this nation is indeed still, in spite of all the difficulties, a beacon of hope." Read More | Video

There are numerous events planned throughout the region for this year’s May Day. A march and demonstration in front of the main Los Angeles ICE detention facility in Downtown Los Angeles is planned and is expected to be sizeable. There are also many feeder marches from local communities such as Echo Park planning to rally downtown in the late afternoon. In Riverside a march on City Hall under the banner: Día Internacional del Trabajo has been called by local community organizers and there are dozens of similar such events planned throughout the Southern California area.

Latest from the Newswire: Workers' Day-May Day- Primero de Mayo- Dia de los Trabajadores | | May Day March for Immigrants Rights An interview with Ron Gochez of the Southern California Immigration Coalition, the Unión del Barrio, and member of the Association of Raza Educators by Brian Elerding | | EPCC STATEMENT FOR MAY 1 RALLY IN LA| | ALL OUT IN THE STREET! May Day 2009 National Immigrant Workers Mobilization! by Lee Siu Hin

"Everybody recognizes that the system is broken. Why would there be any reason to keep that system going for any amount of time until we can change it?" Eduardo Cardenas, a member of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition, is discussing the May 1 March for Immigrants' and Workers' Rights. MIRAc, the May 1 coalition and community members call for an executive order to halt immigration raids and deportations until a comprehensive immigration reform bill is passed, unconditional legalization for all immigrants, driver's licenses for all and the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

In San Francisco, calling for mass action in defense of jobs and families, union contingents, students and an anarchist bloc gathered at Dolores Park in San Francisco at noon and marched to Civic Center for an afternoon rally. The Alexander Berkman Social Club sponsored a picnic at Dolores Park.

In the East Bay city of Hayward, participants gathered at Weeks Park then marched to City Hall to demand passage of an ordinance that would make Hayward a Sanctuary City. At UC Berkeley, a rally at at Sproul Plaza, was followed by a march to Ashby BART. In Oakland, a program at Fruitvale Plaza preceded a march to City Hall.

In San José, demonstrators were greeted by entertainment at City Hall by the Raging Grannies. The immigrant rights action started off with a march from Mi Pueblo Shopping Center at King and Story. After the rally, spontaneous singing and dancing broke out on the street in front of the City Hall plaza in celebration of International Workers Day and the upcoming Cinco de Mayo events planned in the city.

In the Central Valley towns of Fresno and Reedley, the day was marked with songs of the labor movement. Speaking events focused on worker-related topics from farms to the threat of fundamentalism to justice and sustainability. A March for Legalization started at Fresno's Eaton Plaza.

Bicyclists in Santa Cruz met at the Bike Church at noon and rode to the Plaza de Watsonville where they protested Wells Fargo and joined up with activities planned by the Watsonville Brown Berets and other community organizations. The Watsonville activities included speakers, free consultations with lawyers, and a march to demand comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to citizenship. Others in Santa Cruz rallied at UCSC then marched to the Beach Flats.

On Friday, May 1st from 4:00 - 9:00pm there will be May Day activities in the Watsonville Plaza, including speakers, free consultations with lawyers, films, and more. At 6:00pm, people throughout the Monterey Bay Area will rally and march to demand justice, human rights, and comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to citizenship.

Organizers expect hundreds of workers, immigrants and community supporters to come out for the 2009 Mayday Rally, entitled “Workers Seeking Justice for All” on Friday, May 1st in front of City Hall, Worcester. Speakers will address issues including community solutions to the economic crisis, immigration reform and raids, workers organizing and the Free Choice Act, and contributions that immigrants offer to the city. Several performers including Maury Kungfu’s Lion Dancers, Uruguayan Murga troupe “La Klandestina”, a multicultural youth hip-hop team from the Toxic Soil Busters, and Ritmos Dance Academy.

"This is America" is a film about a family torn apart by deportation. The story revolves around a single undocumented mother and her two sons. The story is set into motion when the mother is arrested during an immigration raid on her workplace. The gifted older son, Jose, must abandon his college dreams and return home to care for his younger brother and attempt to salvage what's left of their family after their mother's deportation. The film depicts the emotional destruction that is the aftermath of an immigration raid.

Update 4/28: Audio interview with hunger striker at Port Isabel - One of the detainees on hunger strike - Rama Carty - spoke to the Observer by phone on Friday about how he has been detained by ICE for more than 13 months.
Los Fresnos, TX: Yesterday, 200 detainees at the Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC) began a passive resistance movement with an organized hunger strike to protest physical and verbal mistreatment they face at the facility. Over the last few months, inmates have made many complaints to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and facility operators Ahtna Technical Services Incorporated (ATSI), but the continued deplorable conditions has pushed detainees to engage in non-violent protest.

Detainees have stated that they face violations to their due process rights, do not receive adequate medical attention, and have experienced physical and verbal abuse from ICE and ATSI officers.

Organizations in Texas and New York are standing in solidarity with protesters, as many have received complaints from detainees and family members about conditions at PIDC since early this year. “We've heard of detainees being denied food, beaten and shackled as retaliation for speaking up about inadequate conditions. Many of the detainees are legal permanent residents from northeastern cities [and] they've been shipped to this desolate prison away from any kind of family and community support. ATSI staff is being very brazen in their lawlessness. I think there's a perception that no one will speak up in defense of immigrants. It all seems designed to break down the will of the detainees so that they will agree to being deported,” remarked Maria Muentes, an organizer from Families for Freedom in New York City. [Read Full Article]

May Day 2009 is approaching fast, and immigrant rights and workers’ rights groups are organizing for a strong showing in the face of the economic crisis.

Capitalizing on the massive outpouring of immigrant support in 2006, immigrants are seeking to hold President Obama’s feet to the fire, demanding comprehensive immigration reform that would grant legal status to the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States.

Karen Yi reports on May Day 2009, writing, “The government has committed trillions of dollars to bail out Wall Street in less than a year. And as the Obama administration and the corporate elite bicker over what money goes where, those most affected by the economic crisis have been seemingly shut out of negotiations.

Caught in between the finger-pointing and bank bailouts are the communities that are absorbing the brunt of foreclosures and rising unemployment. But this May 1, the unemployed, the homeless and immigrants are taking their demands to the streets.

The New York May 1st Coalition, a committee of more than 40 immigrant and worker rights organizations in the New York region, will rally at noon at Union Square to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day) and to hold President Barack Obama accountable on his 100th day in office.” For the rest of the story, see the link to “Working to Reclaim May Day” below, as well as two other stories by Karen Yi focusing on day laborers and the inhumane immigrant detention system. Also in this issue of the Indypendent: The growing use of robotics in warfare; CUNY students struggle with the economic crisis; and an on-the-ground report from Gaza by Democracy Now! producer Anjali Kamat.

Working to Reclaim May Day || Dreams Day-by-Day || Injustice Behind Bars || Economic Downturn Crunches College Students: As State Budget Deficit Forces Tuition Increases, Local Students Take a Stand || CUNY Rising || Rockefeller Reforms Need Rehab || Harlem to Kabul || Community Calendar || Reader Comments || Robot Wars || The Original Tea Party || Inside Gaza: The Land of Ghosts || Israel’s Killer Election || Walled In || Reporting Dangerously from Zimbabwe || A Face of Cambodian Courage || Liberating the Bricks in the Wall: A Review of Everywhere All The Time: A New Deschooling Reader || Jacking in to the Future: A Review of Sleep Dealer || A Glimpse From the Belly of the Beast: A Review of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Latest Book || I’ll Have a “Draught Dodger!”: Canadian Parliament Votes Again to Let U.S. War Resisters Stay

Against a backdrop of multi-colored flags from Filipino organizations and amidst indigenous music from the Ecuadorian group Raices, day laborers, immigrants and community activists came together to demand dignity and rights for all workers in a protest on April 19 in Woodside, Queens.