Trail of DREAMS

EACH YEAR, hundreds of thousands of people are being deported and thousands of families are being separated. Children are being stripped from their parents by the immigration system and students are being held back from realizing the full potential simply because of a lack of documents they’ve never even had the opportunity to attain.

Immigrants and their families have waited patiently for change, but all they can see is more suffering. Still, our elected officials tell us we must wait, wait patiently for immigration reform. The Department of Homeland Security however, is not waiting patiently to separate us from our families.

WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT JUST SIT BACK AND KEEP WAITING!

On January 1, 2010, a small team of brave, passionate students from Miami will embark on a 2000 mile journey across the southeast, all the way to Washington, D.C. to galvanize unorganized communities and link immigrant rights networks and their allies to stand in solidarity for the passage of just and humane immigration reform for all that includes an end to the senseless separation of families and deportation of DREAMers, a pathway to citizenship, and access to higher education for undocumented youth.

Meanwhile, in south Florida, another team of passionate community members and families will begin an indefinite “Fast for our Families” in the name of all who have lost a loved one to the deportation system. The purpose of this fast is to touch the hearts of all who value family unity and strength of our communities. It aims to move the administration to stop tearing our families apart.

The Fast for Our Families will celebrate its last meal with those embarking upon the Trail of DREAMs on New Year’s Eve, and hold a sustained fast until the Obama administration hears the cries of all the families and communities torn apart by deportation. What the Fast for our Families is asking for is simple:

That the Obama administration…

• suspend the detention and deportation of immigrants with US Citizen children, spouses, and immigrant students until there is resolution on the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform;

• grant, both immigrants with US Citizen children and spouses whose detention and deportation have been suspended, work permits until there is resolution in Congress on the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform;

• support the creation of an honest process by which the best interests of communities, families, and children are weighed before detaining and deporting any individual.

Furthermore, it demands a face to face meeting with Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security agree.

We will give Congress until May First of 2010 to fix our broken immigration system. This is also the day that we expect to be arriving in the national capital with a goal of at least 100,000 people prepared to begin fasting until our nation’s great promise of justice and freedom is realized for ALL.

WHY A WALK?

We recognize that driving has become yet another way to disconnect ourselves from the beautiful communities and people of our country. We are seeking those that share our DREAMs and hold the same passion to carry that DREAM to fruition.

Also, we recognize that so many people in our immigrant communities DON’T have the privilege of driving, being denied the access to a simple driver’s license as well as basic identification. Through our commitment to grassroots organizing we will prove that you don’t need a permission to drive to allow yourself to dream, and that a license is not going to keep any of us from traveling every single step of the way to make sure we carry our message to the those who are determining the fate of all of our lives across America.

WHY A FAST?

We walk on the same spiritual journey as faith communities around the globe and leaders that came before us such as Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi. We fast to strengthen our spirit but also because we are hungry for justice and our families are starved of the love that comes from our unity. We fast because we believe in a peaceful resistance to our oppression but understand that resistance is essential nevertheless.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
“OUR CHOICE TODAY IS NO LONGER BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND NONVIOLENCE. IT IS BETWEEN NONVIOLENCE OR NONEXISTENCE.”

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

1) TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TRAIL, then go through that list and tell their mothers, cousins, and neighbors (blast it in every corner of cyberspace: make it part of your status, share the group, and invite your friends)

2) Support the walkers by coordinating a reception when they come through your town, or contact people you may know along the trail to receive them with a place to stay and a meal.

3) DONATE TO THE CAUSE: http://seed.sproutbuilder.com/ZACdaoIvHOHujb4f

4) Organize your own solidarity mobilization to D.C. that will reach critical mass on May 1st outside of Congress!

More on how you can help:

http://swer.org/actions.htm