Notes from May 1st Coalition Forum

I recently attended a meeting held by the May 1st Coalition (www.may1.info). A centerpiece discussion was the need for solidarity from all human rights groups. The main objective of the forum was to brainstorm ideas on how to achieve solidarity, which was described as being an act of reciprocity and identification. There was concern that the May 1st coalition and May Day protests in NYC were being confused with being solely for immigrant rights. This is not to say that the coalition is not, however from what I gathered, the statement of purpose for the May 1st Coalition and the historical roots and May Day focus on Worker Rights, which happens to encompass immigrant rights as well. There seemed to be great concern and avid discussion around how vital it is for the coalition to remember this.

I left the meeting invigorated about the niblets of knowledge I learned about the coalition, the people who are involved, and the other causes and movements happening all around the city and the country. One of the advocates I met was David L. Wilson, the co-author of “the POLITICS of IMMIGRATION: Question and Answers.” David shared that one of his interests is informing immigrants about their surroundings and options: socially, legally, and financially. I spoke with him briefly to express my own interests in providing undocumented immigrants. One of the lessons I learned was the importance of not getting lost in one’s cause and forgetting the rest of the world. To paraphrase: one of the speakers pointed out how important it is not to settle for just defending one’s plight, but it is also equally important to make a claim.

This event was my first of such meetings and everyone was extremely welcoming and eager. As I looked around the room washing my eyes over all of the faces, everyone felt familiar. It was as though I’d met them in my dreams, where I am safe and I am strong.

May 1st Coalition Forum

May 1st Coalition Forum
Saturday, May 31 • 2-6 pm 2008
Church of the Village
48 St. Mark’s Place, New York

2-4 pm Building the movement in solidarity with immigrants & workers: organizing labor, students, the progressive movement, etc. for social change

4 pm Teatro Callejera: No Abres La Puerta

4:30-6 pm: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: With or without documents, you have rights. Hear legal and other experts on how immigrants & workers have the right to organize unions, what to say if ICE comes to your home or community, etc.

Being Young and Undocumented

Public awareness of the plight of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth experience is lacking. Granted, statistics, data, and life accounts of undocumented/illegal immigrants are vague and elusive for obvious reasons, it is still important for the public to be informed. In addition, it is equally important, if not more so, for the undocumented/illegal youth population to also be aware. They must be informed about their circumstances, its ramifications and other options. Unlike documented/legal immigrants or even undocumented/illegal immigrant adults, resources for the undocumented/illegal immigrant youth are not readily available or openly publicized. The undocumented/illegal immigrant youth face not only the challenge of being young and an immigrant, but they must also face living in the shadows of a group that is already in the dark. There is a need for attention and research that will develop accessible resources, tools, and knowledge fort the undocumented/illegal immigrant youth.
It can be argued that such attempts to provide resources, tools, and knowledge for the undocumented/illegal immigrant youth undermines attempts to curb entry and residence of undocumented/illegal immigrants. However, it is naïve to use ignore-tactics on a population treated and identified as deviant, in hopes that it will deter or diminish their numbers. With the ever increasing numbers of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth who have spent their years of adolescent development in the U.S., action must be taken to inform them and provide them with tools in order for them to take action and be active participants in changing their circumstance. In addition, it is neither becoming nor beneficial to the economic, social, and cultural health of the United States to treat undocumented/illegal immigrant youth with the same legal ramifications as undocumented/illegal immigrant adults. The responsibility of an intent to defy immigration laws cannot be put on the shoulders of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth; their circumstances were not of their own making. But it is not all for nil. There is still time to help shape and shift, celebrate and promote an informed America.
In order to provide programs and resources to support undocumented/illegal immigrant youth, efforts must be made to learn about the varying circumstances and experiences of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth. Initiative toward exploratory and ethnographic studies is a recommended jumping-off point to determine the needs of this hidden population, as well as the factors that informed their circumstance. From there actions can be taken to address not only the overall subject of immigration in the U. S., but also the subject of human civil liberties.