El miércoles por la tarde, S.E.E. Change, defensores locales del cambio social, económico y educativo en Kalamazoo, se asoció con el Centro Arcus para la Justicia Social para presentar un documental que explora la respuesta actual y la perpetuación del trauma personal, intergeneracional, racista y de pobreza en el sistema de justicia penal. Nuestra sociedad. Producido y dirigido por la Dra. Shakti Butler, Healing Justice se basa en entrevistas con ex delincuentes, víctimas, artistas, expertos en justicia penal y practicantes de justicia restaurativa para proporcionar cuentas personales emocionantes, contexto histórico y cultural, y datos para ilustrar la filosofía y efectividad de utilizando un enfoque de sanación en línea con las Prácticas Restaurativas para reducir las tasas de delincuencia violenta y de reincidencia en las comunidades de todo el país.
Elisheva T. Johnson SEE Change Organizer
Durante la proyección, se invitó a los televidentes a participar en discusiones en grupos pequeños y compartir ideas entre la audiencia más amplia sobre cómo podemos trabajar juntos para abordar el daño causado por un sistema de justicia punitiva: una población en prisión cada vez mayor, estructuras familiares rotas, privación de derechos económicos, niños traumatizados, víctimas olvidadas, crisis de salud mental no tratadas y avance hacia un enfoque más efectivo y proactivo para lidiar con el delito y la delincuencia, uno que aborde las causas de los comportamientos dañinos y se enfoque en las necesidades reales de los delincuentes y las víctimas.
El evento del miércoles contó con la participación de activistas comunitarios, líderes, académicos y jóvenes, así como del Fiscal del Condado de Kalamazoo, Jeff Getting, quien según los informes está explorando la posibilidad de implementar la Programación de Justicia Restaurativa en el sistema judicial juvenil local. VER. Los organizadores del cambio esperan que esto sea solo el comienzo del diálogo continuo y la colaboración de buena fe entre los miembros de la comunidad, los funcionarios de justicia penal y los líderes electos en Kalamazoo.
Se anima a los interesados en unirse a la conversación a conectarse con S.E.E. Cambiar a través de Facebook o correo electrónico seechangekazoo@gmail.com
Se puede encontrar más información sobre Healing Justice y otras películas de World Trust en: www.world-trust.org/films
Una lista completa de los próximos eventos en el Centro Arcus para la Justicia Social está disponible en: https://reason.kzoo.edu/csjl/
Immigration Reform 2013 Rally in Southwest Michigan
Kalamazoo (Majyck Radio)- Jose Aguilera, MOP Statewide Board Member greeted hundreds of Kalamazoo families, community leaders, church members and families from across southwest Michigan assembled at the Hispanic American Council for a rally with the national “Family Unity” bus tour for immigration reform.
The message was clear-family unity and pathway to citizenship now. “Family Unity” buses across the country are making their way toward Washington, D.C., stopping in key congressional districts to build pressure for immigration reform in 2013 and lifting up the stories of the broken immigration system. Thirty “Family Unity” riders from Wisconsin and Illinois joined southwest Michigan MOP members for last night’s rally.
Chants of, Si Se Puede, translated, We can do it, erupted throughout the evening with claps cheers and live music provided by Iglesia Evangelica Misionera Band.
The rally focused on the need for comprehensive immigration reform this year which includes a clear pathway to citizenship. MOP members criticized Rep. Fred Upton of southwest Michigan for saying “there may not be a specific pathway to citizenship”. Speakers at the rally pointed out that lack of earned citizenship would create a permanent underclass of 11 million workers, students, and family members.
Jenn Amaya, MOP member from Grand Rapids and DREAM student shared her families ordeal dealing with immigration reform. Her mother found out that she could never re-enter the United States after returning to Mexico at the advice of an immigration lawyer to “process her papers”.
At 15 years old, Jenn was left to raise her younger brother and sister of four and six years old alone. Both children are U.S. citizens. Though Jenn made the Dean’s list her first year of college, she has not been able to continue while working and caring for her siblings.
Sergio Martinez, DREAM student and member of MOP out of Detroit along with several people from the Michigan Organizing Project (MOP), a non-profit organization shared their stories. Denis Montero arriving in the United States when he was 12 years old shared how oppressive and limited his life has been for him and his family. He is also part of the bus tour from from Voces d la Frontera, Wisconsin.
13 years ago, Ivan Gomes local business owner and MOP member came to the United States. His story re-enforced the consistant struggles immigrants are facing. “In my home country, I was a third class citizen.” Because of my race and religion, I didn’t have the opportunites to go to college or get a business license. That’s what this country is about-‘all men are created equal’. But even for me as a legal immigrant, the system is so broken that in spite of being here legally for 13 years and paying thousands of dollars in immigration fees, I have no path to citizenship.”
“Without a path to citizenship, we’re telling one million people that they are good enough to work in our fields and slaughterhouses, clean our bathrooms and hotels, pay taxes, but that they are not good enough to to ever be Americans”, said Nick Boyd, a local small business owner. “Rep. Upton’s position is actually more extreme than most other members of his own party. The leaders of Rep. Upton’s party support a pathway to citizenship: Senator Marco Rubio, Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Jeff Flake, even Speaker of the House John Boehner all support a pathway.”
Immigrants invoked the core American principles of Justice, freedom and opportunity that brought them to the U.S. and support their call to protect families and communities by fixing the broken immigration system.
“I want to know why my congressman won’t meet with us,” said MOP student organizer Wendy Medrano, whose family was torn apart by the broken immigration system for 18 years. “The congressman needs to know my family’s story and the stories of the other southwest Michigan families who are being affected by the broken system. He can’t hide from us forever”.
MOP and “Family Unity” members also announced a national mobilization for reform to Washington D.C. in April. Organizers plan to take several buses from southwest Michigan.
DETROIT – Today, the Alliance for Immigrant Rights welcomed the decision by Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson to grant drivers licenses to immigrant youth under Obama Administration reforms enacted last summer. Secretary Johnson has agreed per the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that immigrants covered under the President’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are “lawfully present,” the technical designation necessary for the granting of drivers’ licenses. Young people active in the movement for immigration reform can claim victory for making sure the state recognized their rights to drive under the new reforms.
“This validates our efforts. It is great that we can now make use of the work permits granted under DACA,” said Sergio Martinez, a DREAM youth and AIR volunteer organizer. “…And we can also make use of our educations to begin to fulfill our dreams. This will also keep momentum going to win justice for our families with comprehensive immigration reform.”
“Those of us from Michigan will be marching in D.C. with a bit more enthusiasm after this,” said Raquel Garcia Andersen, AIR organizer. “It’s one thing to know immigration reform is the right thing for our families and communities and it’s another to win a solid victory. Young people can get to work and school without fear as well as drive to the march in April to work to keep our families safe.”
April 10, 2013 is the date set by the immigrant rights movement to march at the nation’s capital in support of comprehensive reforms including a path to citizenship and allowing those separated from their families to rejoin them. Those wishing to sign up for the Wednesday, April 10, 2013 march in Washington D.C to “Keep Families Together” through immigration reform can do so here.
Concerned community members and leaders were present for a public meeting held at the Hispanic American Council at 930 Lake St. This past June, President Obama signed a policy calling for deferred action for certain undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children and have pursued higher education or military service here. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) handles applications from individuals 31 and younger that meet certain guidelines. This action taken by President Obama and his administration gave hope to young people that were brought to the United States as children temporarily eliminating the possibility of deportation for many youths.
However, many immigrants who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA ) will not get a Michigan driver’s license of State ID. The Michigan Secretary of State Office (SOS) earlier this month Michigan will not issue driver’s licenses to beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy (DACA). While SOS previously indicated driver’s licenses would be issued for four-year durations, now states that DACA beneficiaries are not “legally present” in the United States for purposes of Michigan driver’s license requirements because DACA does not grant lawful status.
If you would like to support DACA applicants, you can voice your concern with Governor Snyder or Constituent Services.
If you were not able to attend the public meeting raw video footage will be available for viewing on Youtube.com
El miércoles por la tarde, S.E.E. Change, defensores locales del cambio social, económico y educativo en Kalamazoo, se asoció con el Centro Arcus para la Justicia Social para presentar un documental que explora la respuesta actual y la perpetuación del trauma personal, intergeneracional, racista y de pobreza en el sistema de justicia penal. Nuestra sociedad. Producido y dirigido por la Dra. Shakti Butler, Healing Justice se basa en entrevistas con ex delincuentes, víctimas, artistas, expertos en justicia penal y practicantes de justicia restaurativa para proporcionar cuentas personales emocionantes, contexto histórico y cultural, y datos para ilustrar la filosofía y efectividad de utilizando un enfoque de sanación en línea con las Prácticas Restaurativas para reducir las tasas de delincuencia violenta y de reincidencia en las comunidades de todo el país.
