Starting from around noon today, a group of 25 women just occupied the offices of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the third most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives. Our communities have called, visited and even spoken directly to Representative McCarthy, demanding that he not only support a Path to Citizenship, but that he commit to moving a bi-partisan bill that addresses the unique needs of women to a vote in the House. He has ignored us for almost a year, so it is time to escalate our actions!
Support these women virtually by TAKING ACTION NOW@ http://action.ufw.org/mccarthy11613">http://action.ufw.org/...
There is a live feed of the action that will go back up at around 4pm today @ http://www.americasvoiceonline.org/...
A photo album of the event which is constantly being updated can be seen at: https://picasaweb.google.com/...
Rosario and her daughter, are part of this action. Earlier this year their family was unjustly torn apart by our broken immigration system. Rosario has become a leader in the fight to keep families together in Kern County. Rosario's family and the families of this community deserve comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.
Today, Rosario along with other women activists walked in with their head held high, demanding that Rep. McCarthy stop playing politics with the lives of our families and take action to pass comprehensive immigration reform now. These women will ask him to sign the pledge in support of a path to citizenship and for him to move an immigration bill for a vote in the House.
The Bakersfield’s demonstration will join other protests in more than 12 states on Wednesday and Thursday targeting the House GOP’s leadership and urging them to pass a bill that includes a pathway to citizenship and keeps families together. Local and nationally-recognized immigrant rights advocates have agreed to be arrested during previous actions in New York, Chicago, New Mexico, Arizona, San Francisco, and other cities. Immigrants and their allies are concerned over the skyrocketing number of deportations and the inaction in Congress that negatively impact the lives of more than 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the country.
Organizers announced on Wednesday that an escalation of activities will take place and focus on GOP leaders and other Members who have refused to support immigration reform in spite of the changing demographics of their districts. These California lawmakers include Rep. Buck McKeon, Rep.Gary Miller, Rep. McCarthy, Rep. Darrell Issa, and Rep. Devin Nunez. The campaign is likely to continue as long as necessary and well into the Thanksgiving and December holidays.
The action in Bakersfield is led by We Belong Together, CHIRLA, United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, and SIREN. It is made possible through the collaboration and support of JOB, MIV, MUA, SEIU 521, The California Table, Center for Community Change, Alliance For Citizenship, and others.
Take a minute to support these women virtually by taking action at: http://action.ufw.org/...
Follow today's actions at the UFW's Facebook page or the UFW Foundation's Facebook page or follow ups on twitter @UFWupdates or @UFWF
3:44 PM PT: Live stream GOP sit in backup up! Tune in : http://www.americasvoiceonline.org/...
8:08 PM PT: Instead of Meeting with Constituents to Fix Our Broken Immigration System…Rep. McCarthy’s Office Calls in Cops to Intimidate, Detain Women Activists Inside His Office
Bakersfield, CA—Today, more than 100 immigrant rights advocates, faith, union, and community leaders rallied at Republican Whip Kevin McCarthy’s office, hoping to meet with the Congressman since he was in town for an event he spoke at earlier in the day. The 15 all-women delegation planned to urge the Representative to support bringing immigration reform to the House floor for a vote.
Rather than meet with his constituents, Rep. McCarthy’s staff called the Bakersfield police to lock in more than a dozen of the activists and several members of the press inside McCarthy’s office. Police turned away volunteers bringing food and critical medicine to advocates, three of whom are diabetic.
Below is a statement from Angelica Salas, the President of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA):
“For weeks, we’ve been trying to meet with Congressman McCarthy to urge him to take leadership in bringing immigration reform to the House floor for a vote. There exists a bipartisan majority in the House, yet he, Speaker Boehner, and the Republican leadership refuse to allow the vote to happen.
“Rather than facing us, and explaining his position, he’s chosen to hold us and immigration reform hostage. What he and his Republican colleagues don’t understand is that this issue is personal for us. These are our sisters and brothers, our neighbors, our co-workers who are trapped in a broken immigration system.
“We—and millions across America—are prepared to risk and put our bodies on the line for our families, our communities, and the future of this country. Rep. McCarthy and every member of Congress needs to know: We’re not going away until we get a permanent solution that puts 11 million aspiring Americans on the path to citizenship.”
From Maria Machuca, spokeswoman of the United Farm Workers of America:
“Congressman Kevin McCarthy prefers to send police officers to lock us inside his office than face women demanding he bring immigration reform to a House vote.”
The women, who come from San Francisco, San Diego, and right here from Bakersfield, are determined to stay put until Rep. McCarthy meets with them and commits to bringing immigration reform to the House floor. Other supporters outside the office will hold a candlelight vigil outside the office.
According to a recent poll by a Republican pollster, 76 percent of voters in Rep. McCarthy’s district support immigration reform legislation that includes a pathway to citizenship. In fact, 45 percent of all voters would have a MORE favorable impression of him if he supported legislation that includes a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America.
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