Legal Activists of Color: ACTION ALERT: Urge the gov to sign 1930s deportations bill!!!

------ Forwarded Message

From: Layla Razavi <lrazavi@MALDEF.org>

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 240, Sacramento, CA 95814 Office: (916) 443-7531 Fax: (916) 443-1541 www.maldef.org <http://www.maldef.org/>

One L.A. county official said, "It is not possible for me to indicate who of the MexicansŠwere American citizens or Mexican nationals as I keep no record in that respect." The official characterized it as "a question of pigment, not a question of citizenship or right."

ACTION ALERT: URGE GOVERNOR TO SIGN 1930S DEPORTATIONS BILL
August 17, 2006

Senate Bill 1765 by Senator Marth Escutia was approved by the California State Legislature and sent to the governor's desk. Throughout the 1930s, the U.S. government carried out an aggressive and illegal program to deport nearly two million Americans of Mexican descent. This bill would allow U. S. citizens who were unconstitutionally deported during the Great Depression to seek compensation through a court of law.

The governor must either sign the bill into law or veto (reject) the bill by August 29. Act now to support this historic legislation! Send the governor a letter telling him your story and urge him to support the rights of victims to seek justice. Below is a sample letter to the governor or use the attached word document. Letters should be sent via fax or airmail before the 25th. Thank you for your support!

August 17, 2006

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Senate Bill 1765 (Escutia) B Support                                                                                                                           Via Facsimile 916-445-4633

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

I am writing to express our strong support for Senate Bill 1765 (Escutia), which would allow U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who were unconstitutionally deported during the Great Depression to seek legal redress.

[In 193?, my family/my parent/I was unconstitutionally deported to Mexico. Write 1 or 2 personal sentences describing you/your family's experiences. My parent/ I was] only one among a group of nearly two million Americans of Mexican descent who were also deported simply because of their ethnicity. As a result, U.S. citizens and legal residents were separated from their families, deprived of their livelihood, and stripped of their constitutional rights, due process, and equal protection under the law.

Last year SB 670 (Dunn), the Apology Act, was signed into law; we applaud you for recognizing the importance of this issue. However, without SB 1675, future generations will learn that racism, immorality, and unconstitutional actions will be met with no more than an apology. It is imperative that SB 1675 be signed into law, in order to help ensure that future generations will not bear a similar injustice.   This bill would allow my family to seek justice through the appropriate legal channels. For these reasons, we urge you to enact this vital legislation.

Sincerely,


[your name]

For questions or more information, please contact MALDEF staff at (916) 443-7531 or LRAZAVI@MALDEF.ORG <mailto:LRAZAVI@MALDEF.ORG>

MALDEF, the nation's leading Latino legal organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through advocacy, litigation, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. The Sacramento office works on statewide policy that affects the Latino community.

For more information, contact MALDEF at www.maldef.org <http://www.maldef.org/> or:
Sacramento · (916) 443-7531 · 1107 Ninth Street Suite 240 · Sacramento · CA · 95814
Los Angeles · (213) 627-6614 · 634 South Spring Street, 11th Floor· Los Angeles · CA · 90014

  This message was sent from The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. It was sent from: MALDEF, 1107 Ninth Street Suite 240, Sacramento, CA 95814. You can modify/update your subscription by replying to this email with the word MODIFY in the subject line and your request in the text. You can unsubscribe by replying to this email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.


------ End of Forwarded Message