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ANSWER Chicago
3334 W. Lawrence #202
Chicago, IL 60625
773-463-0311

A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition in Chicago (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)

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SB 1070 court ruling:
An "important but partial victory"
Protests set for today and tomorrow

Protest in Chicago
Thursday, July 29, 4 pm

No to Racist SB 1070!
End Raids & Deportation!
Full Equality for All Immigrants Now!
Jobs, Education, Health Care & Peace, Not Apartheid Laws!


Gather at the Cook County Jail
26th & California
For directions click here
For more information call 773-463-0311

The racist ICE agency operates out of the Cook County Jail. Join us in front of the jail on the day SB 1070 is set to go into effect. Let's tell the Arizona gov't and Washington in a united voice: "Stop the war on immigrants now! Legalization Now!" Bring your signs and banners.

The July 29 action is initiated by the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign. Dozens of pro-immigrant groups will be joining the protest. ANSWER Chicago calls on all progressives to take a stand against the attacks on immigrants.

Statement from the ANSWER Coalition

Today's decision by the U.S. District Court barring key
provisions of the racist, anti-immigrant law SB 1070 is an important
but partial victory.

The court decision comes on the eve of the implementation of the
Arizona law and as demonstrators are assembling in Phoenix and
elsewhere throughout the country. The ruling by U.S. District Court
Judge Susan Bolton comes after weeks of intense mobilization,
demonstrations and street rallies in states throughout the country.
Following the decision by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to sign SB 1070 into
law, a Boycott Arizona movement has spread from coast to coast. The
court's decision will undoubtedly be challenged. This is all the
more reason to intensify the mobilization of the people, in Arizona
and everywhere.

Ironically, the preliminary injunction was granted in response to a
lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department. The Obama
administration, while opposing the Arizona law, has carried out a
record number of deportations - far more than were carried out
during the last two years of the Bush administration in 2007 and 2008.

The U.S. District Court today granted a preliminary injunction against
key provisions of the law. They include:

*  The requirement that police officers in Arizona investigate the
immigration status of anyone arrested in the state if the police
officers "suspect" that the individuals are in the
country illegally. This provision institutionalized racial
profiling against Latinos and all people of color.
*  The imposition of criminal penalties for any non-citizen in
Arizona who failed to carry their immigration documents with
them or for all immigrants failing to register with the
Department of Homeland Security.
*  The mandatory arrest of anyone who had been detained for even
the most minor offense that would usually result in a ticket or
citation, if that individual could not verify that they are
legally authorized to be in the United States.
*  The allowance of police to arrest individuals, even without an
arrest warrant, if they are deemed by police officers to be
removable from the United States.
*  The creation of a new category making it a crime for
undocumented immigrants to be employed in the state of Arizona.

SB 1070 will go into effect tomorrow, but without the provisions of
the law that are barred by the preliminary injunction.

The ANSWER Coalition has been deeply involved in the organization of
today's and tomorrow's demonstrations protesting SB 1070
in Phoenix, Arizona, and in all of the earlier demonstrations in
Arizona and around the country.

Without the mobilization of people in the streets throughout the
country, the reactionary and racist forces that pushed this law
through in Arizona would have succeeded. Moreover, state legislatures
throughout the country are watching Arizona with an eye to the outcome
of this battle. If this clearly unconstitutional law could take effect
in Arizona, racist bigots will eagerly try to pass similar measures in
states throughout the country.

The Obama administration's decision to file a lawsuit against
the Arizona law was the consequence of the pressure it felt from an
outraged and mobilized population that is demanding the overturn of
this racist law. Judge Bolton's decision today is in response to
a number of lawsuits, including one filed by the U.S. Justice
Department.

The Obama administration, however, has greatly intensified the arrest
and deportation of immigrant workers since it took office in January
2009. As the Washington Post of July 26 reported, "[T]he Obama
administration is deporting record numbers of illegal immigrants and
auditing hundreds of businesses that blithely hire undocumented
workers. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expects to
deport about 400,000 people this fiscal year, nearly 10 percent above
the Bush administration's 2008 total and 25 percent more than were
deported in 2007. The pace of company audits has roughly quadrupled
since President George W. Bush's final year in office."

We will continue to organize in the streets and support efforts in the
courts to overturn SB 1070 and all federal, state and local laws that
criminalize undocumented workers and promote racial profiling against
Latinos and other people of color. It is not enough to allow the Obama
administration to formally oppose SB 1070 in Arizona while engaging in
mass deportations and arrests of immigrant workers.

Instead of mass deportations, the Obama administration should support
comprehensive immigration reform that gives millions of
super-exploited immigrant workers full legal rights.


Racism will be defeated in the streets!
A Party for Socialism and Liberation Meeting

Shirley Sherrod demo at USDA, 07-21-10Saturday, July 31, 6 pm
3334 W. Lawrence # 202
Brown Line, Kimball Stop; #81 Bus
Click here for directions
Call 773-920-7590 for more info

Racism has always been central to the oppressive and exploitative capitalist system. The capitalists use it to divide workers. Now, the flames of racism are being fanned by laws like SB 1070, bigoted TV personalities and by the actions of local, state and federal government bodies. Join us for an important meeting were we'll discuss how to defeat racism and racist organizations like the Minutemen, the Tea Party and the KKK.

Topics

** The Firing of Shirley Sherrod and the struggle against racism in the United States

** SB 1070 Update: The struggle against racism will be won in the streets. With an update from the national days of action against SB 1070.

** A Marxist discussion on the principal of self-determination and the centrality of the struggle against racism to the workers struggle for justice and jobs, health care, education and housing.

Join us for presentations, discussion and organizing. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is a member of the ANSWER Coalition.


Video from March 2010 Antiwar Protests
To get involved with ANSWER Chicago call 773-463-0311 or click here 


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Join the struggle for social justice in our communities and all over the world. Be a part of building an independent people's movement to stop war, racism and all forms of oppression. Help organize to end colonial occupation in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Haiti, and everywhere.

This spring, summer and beyond ANSWER will continue to organize and support a wide variety of progressive actions, including protests against the war in Iraq and mobilizations for immigrant rights. ANSWER is involved in the people's movement in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, all over the US and all over the world.

ANSWER uses a diversity of tactics and strategies to build, sustain, expand and deepen the new anti-war, anti-racist, pro-justice movement that has emerged. More info

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Upcoming
Events

Important Immigrant Rights Protest
Thursday, July 29
No to SB 1070!
Stop the Raids and Deportations!

Racism will be defeated in the streets
Saturday, July 31
PSL Meeting

Reports,
Articles &
Statements

Chicago rallies in solidarity with struggle against SB 1070
Tuesday, June 8
Fight anti-Immigrant racism!

ANSWER Chicago coordinator speaks at emergency protest in response to Israeli massacre on Gaza bound humanitarian flotilla
Tuesday, June 1
Over 2,000 protesters hit the street

Thousands of teachers and students protest education cuts
Thursday, May 27
Streets around city hall shut down

ANSWER Chicago coordinator speaks at Chicago Socialism Conference
Saturday, May 15

15,000 rally, shut down Springfield
Wednesday, April 21
Stop the Budget Cuts!

Sign the Petition:
No Budget Cuts!


Stop the Criminal Illinois Budget Cuts

Monday, April 19
Make the Rich Pay their Share!

Tens of thousands take to the streets
Saturday, March 20
Protesters demand: "U.S. Out of Afghanistan and Iraq!"

Video from March 2010 Antiwar Marches

Chicago workers hit the streets to march for jobs

Monday, Jan. 25
The time to stop the layoffs and budget cuts is now!

2009

PSL Chicago fights to defend the right to distribute leaflets
Thursday, Dec. 31

Workers and riders protest transit layoffs and cuts in Chicago
Monday, Dec. 14
Fight back! An injury to one is an injury to all!

Demonstrations against escalation of Afghanistan war take place across country
Tuesday, Dec. 5
U.S./NATO Out of Afghanistan Now!

Protesters Picket CTA Board Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 17
CTA Passes 2010 Budget with massive service cuts and layoffs

Anti-war Protests on 8th Anniv. of Afghanistan War

Wednesday, Oct. 7
Click her for an audio slideshow from Medill reports

Video and Report from July 29 Parking Meter Protest at City Hall
Thursday, July 30
Stop Parking Meter Rate Hikes & Expansion Now!

ANSWER's Parking Meter Campaign on Expired Meter Blog
Friday, July 10
Join fight-back campaign!