On May 13, 2014, Wilmer Irias Palma and Yestel Velasquez were arrested when ICE conducted a sweeping workplace raid of a Latino auto-shop in a heavily Latino suburb of New Orleans. Wilmer was working on auto repairs and Yestel was a customer retrieving his car when ICE raided the shop, detaining anyone onsite.
Over the past two years, the ICE Southern Regional Office has been targeting Latino neighborhoods and businesses frequented by Latinos across the New Orleans area, for stop-and-frisk type raids where Latinos are stopped, fingerprinted, and arrested. Such operations have been the subject of national concern and attention.
In May, Wilmer and Yestel filed a complaint with DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties reporting these abusive ICE operations, and DHS has opened an investigation. In response ICE has denied their request for prosecutorial discretion by granting a three-month stay of removal which ICE is requiring them to serve in detention. Effectively sentencing civil rights complainants to detention followed by deportation violates ICE’s prosecutorial discretion policy and clearly deters victims from reporting civil rights abuse by ICE.
Please support them by signing the petition at Notonemoredeportation.com!
A Kid-Friendly Fundraiser!
RUBARB’s 4th Annual Fundraiser!
The event will feature music, an exciting puppet show, a silent and live auction, and much more! Kid friendly and free! (Adults $10)
Sat, March 22nd at the Red House (2820 St. Claude, corner of Press St).
All proceeds help provide RUBARB, an all-volunteer community bike shop, the resources to have Open Shop, snacks, field trips, bike rides, tools, and community space to youth and adults in the 9th ward!
Hang in there, parents!
What with the cold and the rain and the snow (we see you, North East), getting boxed in for long hours with the little ones is enough to make anyone long for the good ol’ days of childless living. Take a breath, pat yourself on the back. Remind yourself that the floor does NOT need to be picked up right now. Go on a walk by yourself. Treat yourself to a nice hot bath after the babies have finally gone down. Take care!
An update from Congreso
We Love Our Volunteers!
The C4 core wants to show our appreciation for our volunteers in the collective! We know it can be stressful at times chasing around kids at the meetings, so we raffled off a massage (donated by Asher! Thanks so much!) to give away to one of our volunteers. KATE SMASH, is the massage winner this time. More massage giveaways to come. Thanks so much to everyone who does childcare with C4.
C4 will have a table at the New Orleans anarchist bookfair this weekend. Come say hello! Saturday 11-5 and noon-6!
JOIN US FOR SOME HALLOWEENIE FUN!!!
Volunteer Potluck — April 22nd @ 6 PM
Please join us at our upcoming potluck for new and returning volunteers.
There will be short presentations by two of our partner organizations, time to chat, delicious food, and sign-up sheets for new volunteer orientation meetings.
Come learn what C4 is all about, and why you should work with us!
Calling All C4 volunteers and allies!! Come out in support of STAND’s press conference and rally!!!! Info below.
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We need to rebuild our communities- not just the buildings in them. But how can we do that if local workers are locked out of the reconstruction? Did you know that in the New Orleans metro area Black household earning income is 50% less than white households? When Black workers are locked out of living wage jobs and opportunities to build career ladders this gap will only continue to grow.
Stand with Dignity has been fighting for full and fair employment for the past three years. In March 2012, we were excited to win a major victory from HANO in the passage of the new Employment, Training, and Contracting Policy at HANO. This policy includes critical groundbreaking language requiring a Community Workforce Agreement on all projects with collective contracts of $25 Million or more..
Over a year later, rather than sitting at a negotiating table to hammer out the details of an agreement which could start to shift the racial income gap in New Orleans we once again are forced to stand up for what is right for New Orleans.
David Gilmore, the Federal Receiver of HANO, is letting big business bully him into shelving this policy. At a time when he is being forced to take away Section 8 vouchers because of the sequester, David Gilmore has decided to side with contractors over New Orleans residents and take away living wage, careerladder jobs.
We are ready to defend our policy win- and we are asking you to join with us and take action!
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 9:30AM
Where: Parking Lot- Norman Mayer and Canton Street
What: Rally and Press Conference for Full and Fair Employment. Members and Allies of Stand with Dignity will tell David Gilmore to stand with workers, not big business and enforce his Community Workforce Agreement Policy.
After the press conference we will march into the HANO Board meeting together.
Volunteer Potluck — April 22nd @ 6 PM
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE ON THE FLYER IS INCORRECT-THE NEW DATE IS MONDAY, APRIL 22nd. THE TIME IS THE SAME.
Please join us at our upcoming potluck for new and returning volunteers!
Crescent City Childcare Collective 