S.W.E.R. NEWS
News and Past Events
On September 23, 2009, SWER participated in the National Back to School DREAM Act Day of Action. People from around the country gathered in order to support and bring attention to our broken immigration system that does not allow undocumented students across the nation access to higher education. Florida alone had twelve different demonstrations and rallies in support of the DREAM Act, seven of those actions were provided by SWER chapters and a total count of 1,236 people were mobilized across the state of Florida. September 23 provided a historical and symbolic meaning to the civil rights movement. September 23, 2009 was the anniversary of the dreadful day fifty-two years ago when nine black students from Little Rock, Arkansas, were brought to a white only school for the first time. They were secretly brought to school, but when pro-segregationist were told of the ordeal, they had to be once again escorted out. These nine students were treated unfairly and with disdain from teachers, staff, and students, but they continued to go so that segregation could end once and for all.
On the weekend of Sept. 11-13, over 170 YOUTH leaders from all over the state of Florida... from Tallahassee to Homestead, from Miami to Immokalee, from Broward County to Manatee County, from West Palm Beach to Apopka! We might all come from different places, different college campuses, different communities, and even had different races, but at the end of the weekend we were ONE -- a statewide team. We all see how broken our immigration system is, the feeling is both palpable and mutual. We all see how many DREAMs have been torn apart, how many loved ones have been unjustly taken, how many injustices have been committed with such impunity. These injustices have moved all of us into action, we see the URGENCY to act NOW, to change the unjust law NOW, and that is is why we all choose to stand together and fight back. So, join us all NATIONWIDE in September 23rd, and speak out for your friends, for your family, for your friends -- you won't be alone! Register your action today on www.DREAMactivist.org
On August 14-16, members of SWER enjoyed the Florida sun (but not as much the uncalled-for rain!) in a three-day camp-out at a local state park. Not only did we have fun kayaking and enjoying the wildlife, but we were able to bond even more as a group and discuss social justice issues in our society.
Just recently, this past Saturday, August 1st, we were part of a DREAM Act forum orchestrated by our close friends and allies at the Palm Beach County Coalition for Immigrant Rights (PBCCIR). Let me just start by saying that there were people of all different colors, sexual orientations, and even age groups. And having such diversity is, without doubt, a beautiful sight. There were some that were unaware of the dire situation DREAMers are in. Others knew full well of our predicament. But by the end of the forum, they were ALL irritated at the injustices of current law, and wanted to do something about it. Which is obviously a win, since both Palm Beach country Reps, namely, Wexler and Hastings, have yet to co-sponsor the DREAM Act. Speaking of legislators, Rep Corrine Brown just recently co-sponsored the DREAM Act, making her the 9th legislator to co-sponsor the DREAM Act in Florida
On July 3 2009, SWER celebrated a key victory! Our friend and supporter, Walter Lara, was going to be deported over the 4th of July weekend. In a short time, SWER was able to organize a campaign to get Walter to stay in the only he's ever known -- the United States of America. After strenous weeks of organizing through Facebook and "on the ground," garnering almost 3000 signatures in Walter's online petition, driving all the way to DC for the National DREAM Act graduation, calling Senators, Representatives, and even key figures within the Department of Homeland Security, Walter got to enjoy his 4th of July weekend with friends and family! This is not the end, though. Walter only got defered action for another year, after that, he can be deported. That is why we DEMAND that the deportation of ALL of those applicable for the DREAM Act be halted and that the Congress and President Obama make the DREAM Act a reality in 2009!
Tuesday, June 23 - SWER held a public action at the Wolfson Campus called "Lock Out!" symbolically setting up a full classroom in the courtyard with "Do Not Enter" take around it symbolizing the thousands of students in our state that are being denied equal access to higher education due to institutional obstacles related to immigration. At this event, we highlighted the case of one of our own members, Walter Lara, who was scheduled for deportation in order to demand an end to the deportations of ALL DREAMers.
Monday, May 11 - SWER held a "Know Your Rights" training at the InterAmerican Campus, going over the basics of raids and detention proceedings and ways that immigrants can protect themselves and their communities from having their rights violated.
On Friday, April 17- SWER led a panel discussion for members of the Florida TESOL conference which brought together ESOL teachers from accross the state to learn about the importance of the DREAM Act and the impact that teachers can have on DREAMer's life.
On April 13 2009, SWER held a DREAM Act Townhall Meeting in the Miami-Dade College campus. Together with over a hundred students and allies, such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Miami-Dade College faculty and administrators, the Florida Immigration Coalition, and Marleine Bastien from the Haitian Women of Miami, SWER urged FL Representatives and Senators to co-sponsor the DREAM Act and make it a REALITY in 2009.
On Wednesday, March 25 - SWER hosted a faculty forum at the Wolfson Campus to engage campus faculty to the DREAM Act movement and the commitment to ensure equal access to higher education for all!
On March 10th and June 16th- SWER co-sponsored an "Immigrant Access to Public Benefits" forum with the Human Services Coalition (HSC) and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC).
On February 19, SWER members stood in solidarity with SEIU at their rally outside the Broward County Courthouse demanding the fair treatment of workers at Nova Southeastern University where janitorial staff are being laid off for standing up for their rights and wages are being witheld.
On February 21, several SWER members attended a Policy Advocacy Training at the United Way.
SWER is setting up this year's appointments for Access to College Workshops in local high schools, supporting the research of Professor Glenda Musoba of Florida International University on immigrant youth struggles getting to college.
On February 28, SWER mobilized 50 students to the Haitian TPS rally outside the Broward detention center. We joined this effort out of our determination to fight back the criminalization of Haitian youth and the overall institutional racism in our society that scapegoats people of color, particularly those without status.
Every other Thursday, SWER meets with the Anti-Racist Miami Dade Coalition to move f13:38:51orward with the plans for a weekend long training we want to have in early fall of 2009. This training will be open to all local grassroots organizing groups in Miami so that we may build bridges of solidarity across social justice movements.
SWER is working closely with the United We DREAM Coalition, taking leads in the Steering and Organizing Committees, making sure that the SWER work we are doing locally is tying into the national network of youth organizing to pass CIR and DREAM this year.
SWER is mobilizing student government associations statewide to lobby for In-State Tuition assisting Ophelia Somers, Student Government President at the Wolfson Campus in leading these efforts. The state e-board has already approved this initiative and placed it among the top 10 issues of the 1.5 million community college students of Florida, but there is still more work to be done in building momentum around the support that exists for In-State and DREAM.
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