We hope to build on the success of past marches and bring tens
of thousands of Portlanders into the street on May 1st to support
worker and immigrant rights and to raise our collective voices to
demand an economy that works for everyone!
a summary of a MAY DAY STATEMENT from the Portland MayDay Coalition:
International Workers' Day began in the 1880s in the United States
with the fight for an eight-hour work day. Today we commemorate the
internatonal struggle of working people and the poor for economic
justice. We stand together against racism and police violence. The
abusive attacks, ICE raids, and detentions of immigrants is
inappropriate. No human being in this nation is "illegal." We intend
to stop all discrimination (including but not limited to prejudice
according to sexual orientation, race, religion, culture, or gender
identity.
Through solidarity, organizing and direct action... we will reform
immigration practices, the criminal justice system, and economic
realities to better meet human needs. We demand increased investment
in public health, education, transportation, and social services.
People in this nation deserve decent affordable housing insead of
foreclosures and evictions. We will secure single payer/ non-profit
health care for all. Our public officials must be persuaded to provide
access to living wage jobs, full employment, and the restoration of
our rights to organize our workplaces.
We can achieve these goals if the rich and corporations pay their fair
share. Instead of bailing out the banks and wall street, we need to
bail out
the American people and main street. We can replace so-called
"free-trade" agreements (that have out-sourced jobs and kept wages low
here
while creating sweatshops and destroying resources elsewhere) with
fair-trade arrangements. We can end wars of choice and
occupations as
well as environmental catastrophes that keep corporations rich and the
people in poverty. Solidarity Forever. Si se puede.
Portland May Day Coalition / 1131 SE Oak St. Portland, OR
97214 / (503) 233-6787
Join others seeking just and comprehensive immigration reform
at an International Workers Day May Day Celebration!
Participants
should bring food, water, & a red, white or blue T-shirt.
"Real education should
consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own
students.
What better books can there be than the book of
humanity?" - Cesar Chavez U.S. labor rights activist,
1927-1993
